It is proposed to take business as on the Order Paper from Nos. 1 to 7 inclusive.
Order of Business.
May I inquire from the Leader of the House if he is in a position to say when motion No. 15 is likely to be taken?
As I informed the Senator last week, it will have to take its place in the queue. There are other motions before it and when they are dealt with its turn will come.
It seems to be going down the list.
May I ask whether the Leader of the House is in order in saying it will have to take its place considering that motion No. 8, which is the first on this list, is the most recently added one?
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
Item No. 8 is concerned with Government business.
Is there any intention of taking it?
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
The Order of Business has been announced— items Nos. 1 to 7 inclusive.
Last week we were assured that this would be dealt with in due course and in order. We had about three hours to spare last week and the Leader of the House was not in a position to enable us to reach any of these motions. Now we have a full agenda and it looks as if we will not reach them today either. I do not think this is satisfactory.
The Senator is long enough in the House to appreciate the difficulties which arise in connection with the scheduling of motions for any particular day. On that point, I should say that I did have a motion lined up for last week at the request of an Opposition Senator and it had to be postponed because the Senator was not ready to take it.
Is the Order of Business Nos. 1 to 7?
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
The question is: "That the Order of Business be agreed."
What is the position about the motion relating to Biafra? Is there agreement on that?
The Senator heard the Order of Business.
I want to know what is the position. Is it the intention to take it?
My attitude is that I do not think it is a right and proper motion to be discussed at this particular time, and I hope that by the time it comes to be discussed negotiations will have succeeded in bringing peace to Biafra.
We all hope that but, on the humanitarian issue, I am afraid of innocent people being killed while we are waiting for peace discussions.
If the Senator has any suggestions as to the protection of civilians in the middle of a war I am sure that the belligerents would be delighted to hear it.
Have we reached any decision as to the Order of Business?
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
The Leader of the House has moved the Order of Business and the Senator can move an amendment if he wishes.
I protest. The Order of Business was agreed before Senator FitzGerald came in.
It was not. As I came in the Leas-Chathaoirleach was asking if it had been accepted.
I would remind Senator FitzGerald that on one occasion when he endeavoured to have a motion on Greece put down I persuaded him to withdraw it and I would hope that he could also be persuaded to withdraw this one.
(Longford): I may have put that idea into Senator Ó Maoláin's head. I have the same view that nobody doubts the good faith of Senator FitzGerald in putting down this motion. Nobody suggests that it should not be discussed but I think that it would be better that we did not do so at this particular time.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
If the House wishes the motion can be discussed.
(Longford): Perhaps Senator FitzGerald would accept the view that there might be a certain amount of risk in discussing this matter in view of difficulties that can arise even after peace has been restored. I suggest that the motion should not be taken at the present time.
Could we have an assurance from the Leader of the House that he will not wait until it is too late to do any good to anybody before he allows the discussion on the motion?
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
The Order of Business has been proposed and if we go any further on this matter the motion will have been discussed.
It was not my intention to discuss the matter today and, therefore, I will not press it any further.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
The Chair is convinced that it is better to have these matters discussed outside the House rather than inside it. It is better to have them discussed outside than to bring them in and have a discussion in the House.
Question put and agreed to.