Fair play to you. Is Wednesday's businesses agreed to? Agreed. Is Thursday's business agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for Friday's business agreed to?

It is not agreed.

We were notified only a couple of hours ago by the clerk to the Business Committee that the statements on health scheduled for Friday in the Dáil will now be taken next week. That is unacceptable. It is because of legislation in the Seanad. We cannot have the Dáil's business rescheduled because of the work of the Seanad. The Seanad has to look after its own business. I cannot see why both cannot be accommodated on Friday.

All the unions which represent front-line health workers were before the Covid committee today. The Taoiseach will know about the huge challenges faced by our health services dealing with Covid care, non-Covid care, catch-up programmes and screening. We have many questions for the Minister for Health. He should be here on Friday. It was the first opportunity for the new Minister for Health to address the Dáil and to take questions from Deputies. It is unacceptable to get an email stating this is not going to happen because of the Seanad business. Both can and should be accommodated. Will the Taoiseach address this?

I support that call. We were notified of the arrangements for Friday and the Business Committee agreed to them. People have made arrangements to be here on Friday. If there is a clash with the Seanad, I suggest that we rejig the order on Friday to facilitate the Minister to go to the Seanad. There are two other items on that day. We should go ahead with it given the urgency of all the issues surrounding Covid.

It has to be accepted we have a problem. The Minister has many challenges but he has not yet managed to bilocate. What does the Taoiseach propose?

I do not organise the schedule or business of the House.

That is a matter for the Business Committee. I am conscious, though, that there is a huge volume of legislation going through this month and I appreciate that all parties are co-operating with the passage of what is, from my memory, probably the highest volume of legislation in any one month. Obviously, it is related to Covid and trying to protect jobs for people, but if something can be facilitated, it will be. I do not know how long it will be delayed. Is it Friday to Tuesday?

Friday to Monday.

Is that the difference?

Yes.

Is that earth shattering? Is that huge?

With due respect, it is not that it is earth shattering.

What I mean-----

People prepare, as the Taoiseach knows-----

I do.

-----to be here on certain days. We are as busy as the Taoiseach is and everyone in the Chamber has his or her own work. When we are told that the Minister for Health will attend on Friday, he should be here on Friday. All we are asking is whether the business can be rescheduled so that both sittings can be accommodated. We accept that the Seanad has to do its work and pass legislation, but to just put our business off on Friday willy-nilly and with no consideration for anyone else is unacceptable. It is the first time that the Minister for Health is to be before the Dáil. In fact, we will have statements next week as well - it would not be good to have statements twice in one week. We have urgent questions that we need to put and clarifications are necessary. All we are asking is for the Government to show a bit of good faith and try to reschedule the sittings of the Seanad and the Dáil so as to accommodate the Minister.

If the Minister is not available, perhaps his very able junior, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, could attend.

No.

That does not appear to be acceptable to Deputy Cullinane. Could I just make the point that we are first and foremost legislators? The legislation is in the Seanad and I take it that it is important that we get the legislation right and that enough time is given to the scrutiny of the legislation itself, particularly in what is a high-pressure situation in terms of legislation going through the House at the moment. I am just not clear whether deferring it to Monday is something that could not be accommodated, but I am open to talking to the Minister and the Ceann Comhairle and the Business Committee can reflect on this. Getting the legislation through with proper scrutiny should be our priority.

In fairness to everyone involved, we were not aware of the Seanad sitting when we made the arrangements for the business on Friday. The point the Taoiseach makes is absolutely valid, in that legislation must take priority over statements. The proposed change from Friday to Monday is not something of earth-shattering significance, but I am in the House's hands. The Business Committee will be convened in some form this afternoon and we will consider all these matters. Is that okay?

Agreed.