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Dáil
‹ Priority Questions and Private Members' Business: Motion.

Priority question allocation motion

Summary

The motion would cap daily priority questions at five, allocated among parties, with their order decided by lottery until Christmas. Molloy objected that the proposal had been defeated recently and could not be brought back for six months; the Ceann Comhairle declined to entertain the point of order, and the motion was opposed.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Mr. V. Brady) Fianna Fáil

I move:

That notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders and until the adjournment of the Dáil for the Christmas Recess:—

(1) The following shall apply in substitution for provision (ii) of Standing Order 37— `The number of such Questions for answer on any one day shall not exceed five, three being nominated by Fine Gael, and one each by the Progressive Democrats and the Labour Party.';

(2) The following shall apply in substitution for provision (iii) of Standing Order 37—

`The sequence in which Questions for answer on any one day shall be placed on the Order Paper shall be decided by lottery.'; and

(3) The following shall apply in substitution for paragraph (3) of Standing Order 89—

`(i) Each group shall have the right to nominate a private Member of the group either to move a motion standing in his name or to proceed with a Stage of a Bill in the Dáil. The frequency with which each group may exercise this right shall be determined on the basis of the number of Members in the groups, and and

(ii) the sequence in which the groups may exercise this right shall be as follows—

This arises from a decision of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

Comment on this
Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle Independent

Is that agreed?

Comment on this

No, it is not. I want to raise a point of order.

Comment on this
Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle Independent

Is the Deputy speaking on this subject matter?

Comment on this

I am referring to the matter referred to by the Chief Whip of the Government Party, a decision of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. It is important that the House should know that this matter came before——

Comment on this
Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle Independent

A point of order, Deputy. It was earlier decided by a vote of this House that there can be no debate on these matters.

Comment on this

I am raising under Standing Orders, on a point of order, whether the rules of this House apply to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges when they are debating——

Comment on this
Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle Independent

I am sorry Deputy, I cannot entertain that question now. I believe I disposed of that matter at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

Comment on this

The House should be aware that, when this matter was discussed at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, the proposal was defeated and it was subsequently brought forward by Fine Gael within a period of a few weeks——

Comment on this
Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle Independent

Is this motion agreed? Is the motion by the Minister of State opposed?

Comment on this

——whereas Standing Orders of the House specify that it cannot be brought back before the House until a period of six months has elapsed.

Comment on this
Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle Independent

I am sorry. I heard the Deputy before on that subject matter. Is the motion agreed?

Comment on this

Under Standing Order No. 51——

Comment on this
Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle Independent

Is the motion agreed?

Comment on this
Division Carried

Question put.

Tá 114
·
Níl 25

Do you agree with this result?