Priority Questions and Private Members’ Time
The motion would extend the arrangements and place priority questions ahead of other ministerial questions; De Rossa’s amendment allowing ordinary-question askers to ask supplementaries was declared lost, and O’Malley opposed the motion over its continuation of the Private Members’ Time rules.
I move:
That the Order of the Dáil of 16th June, 1987, in relation to Priority Questions and Private Members' Time, as amended by Orders of the Dáil of 17th December, 1987, and 29th June, 1988, is hereby amended by
(a) the substitution of "until the adjournment of the Dáil for the Easter Recess, 1989" for "until the adjournment of the Dáil for the Christmas Recess, 1988"; and
(b) the insertion of the following new paragraph before paragraph 3:
"(3) Questions nominated for priority shall be placed on the Order Paper before other Questions to Members of the Government, other than the Taoiseach, to be asked on the same day."...
Comment on this
I move amendment No. 1:
To add to the motion the following:
"Where an ordinary question is taken in conjunction with a priority question during priority question time, the Deputy in whose name the ordinary question stands shall be permitted to ask supplementary questions."
Unless a method such as this is adopted the ordinary Deputy who is not a Front Bench spokesperson will have no opportunity to deal with Questions when they appear on the Order Paper and will have no opportunity to ask supplementary questions.
Comment on this
I appeal to the House to support this reasonable amendment.
Comment on this
I have no objection to the part of the motion which relates to questions and makes a change which is worth while and useful. I have the strongest objection to the part which relates to Private Members' Time. It is proposing to continue in existence the rather dramatic change in rules which was agreed——
Comment on this
I am sorry to interrupt Deputy O'Malley but he will appreciate that according to an order made this morning this matter must be proceeded with without debate. I am putting the questions: "That the amendment be made".
Comment on this
Will the Members who claim a division please rise in their places?
Deputies De Rossa, Sherlock, McCartan and Kemmy rose in their places.
Comment on this
As fewer than ten Members have risen in their places, I declare the amendment lost. The names of the Members who rose will be recorded in the Journal of the Proceedings of the Dáil. Is the motion agreed to?
Comment on this
No, it is not, for the reasons I have already given in relation to Private Members' time.