It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 18, 19 and 20 and, in No. 20, Votes 42 and 39.

Arising out of the Order of Business, I want to ask the Government if they are aware of the fact that two men who have been resident in the Limerick region for the past 12 months were picked up last Thursday and an extradition order sought against them.

That is not a matter to be raised on the Order of Business.

I want to know from the Government if any agreement has been reached——

Now the Deputy is not in order.

—— between the British Government and our Government with regard to extradition.

The Deputy is out of order.

It is absolutely unconstitutional that these two men, who have been living a normal life in the past 12 months——

The Deputy is out of order and the Deputy knows he is out of order. The Deputy may not raise the matter in this way.

I am raising it as a matter of public national importance.

It cannot be raised on the Order of Business.

Has this arrangement been made contrary to the Constitution and contrary to the Extradition Act of 1965? I want a reply from the Government on this issue. These men are now awaiting extradition in Limerick.

I would ask the Deputy to sit down.

I want to know has any arrangement been come to between the British Government and our Government on a tit-for-tat basis.

That does not arise on the Order of Business.

This is a very important issue and I think Deputy Coughlan is entitled to an answer.

Not at this stage.

It is a very important matter.

That may be, but we must have some rules.

Is all this going on behind closed doors between the British Government and this Government?

I am calling No. 18, the Marriages Bill.

Is the answer going to be when the new Bill comes before the House? Is that when we will get the answer?

The matter raised by Deputy Coughlan does not arise on the Order of Business and I have ruled it out of order. The Deputy may raise it in another fashion. It is out of order now.

The future of those two men is in jeopardy at the moment. These two men had been in the Limerick region for the past 12 months and for some unknown reasons they were picked up last Thursday, committed to——

The Deputy may not debate the matter in this way.

Is it Government policy——

Will the Deputy please resume his seat?

——to have the Fianna Fáil Government and the British Government on a tit-for-tat basis in regard to extradition? It is absolutely unconstitutional and I want to know from the Government——

Will the Deputy please resume his seat and allow business to continue? This is not in order. Will the Deputy please behave himself? If the Deputy wants the Chair to put him out, if he will give me time I shall try to do so. If the Deputy does not——

If I get a reply to my question, I shall listen to the Chair. Surely I am entitled to an answer from the Tánaiste, who is here representing the Government? I am sure he knows all that is going on behind closed doors——

Could the Tánaiste say whether or not the Government are——

I intend to make no statement whatever on the matter.

The Tánaiste would be out of order in making any reply on this subject.

The Chair told Deputy Coughlan that he might raise this matter at the appropriate time?

Yes.

Would the Ceann Comhairle give us some indication as to what would be an appropriate time?

No.

Do not make a farce of the House.

The Ceann Comhairle is not making a farce of the House.

If I can raise this at an appropriate time, when is the appropriate time?

Let us get to the Marriages Bill.

May I raise this on the Adjournment tomorrow night?

If the Deputy gives notice at the appropriate time, the Chair will consider his request.