I move:

That paragraph (1) of Standing Order 35 of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business shall not be implemented where the Ceann Comhairle is of opinion that its application in relation to a Question would prejudice the answering of another Question put down earlier.

I support this motion. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the assistance he gave to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to resolve the impasse that arose whereby Deputies who had questions down for oral answer in some instances were pre-empted by written questions being tabled by other Deputies. Happily, the matter has now been resolved unanimously between the parties. The onus had been placed on the Ceann Comhairle in this respect, and we on this side are happy that such practices will not recur of Deputies or Ministers upstaging one another in relation to Dáil questions.

Speaking as a Deputy who is not a member of the committee but who listened to the exchanges here last month between the Government on the one side and Deputies FitzGerald and O'Keeffe on this side, I should like to get it completely clear whether the purpose of this motion is to make it impossible in future for a Deputy, having seen a question on the Order Paper or having learned that it has been put down, to prevent, by means of putting down a written question on similar lines, the former Deputy from getting an oral reply? Is that the purpose of the motion?

That is the purpose.

It does not preclude submission of questions for written reply.

By agreement.

It prevents the oral answer being pre-empted by a written reply?

Not if the written question has been in first.

We welcome this.