Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Before calling Deputy Martin Kenny on No. 8c, I think clarification is required regarding a promise for a debate on Tesco. Has there been some agreement today about debating it next week?

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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May I ask a question?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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A very short question please, not a debate.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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I also want to register that the Leas-Cheann Comhairle did not call anyone from our group on the previous business.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Neither did anyone indicate. Let us be clear about it.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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Sorry, we indicated-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I looked at the Member who raised the question.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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No.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Hold on.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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We indicated as soon as the debate started -----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Hold on. No.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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----- but the Leas-Cheann Comhairle had 15 names already, so-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The one thing of which I cannot be accused is not being impartial in the Chair.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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I am not saying that the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is not impartial.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Nobody indicated.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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I am just saying-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Deputy to proceed with the question-----

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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----- in the interest of balance-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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----- and for it to be a short one.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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On Tuesday's Order of Business, the House agreed to my proposal that the Business Committee would meet on Tuesday to table a debate on Tesco this week. Not only has there been no report back from the Business Committee to the House, there is clearly no debate on Tesco this week.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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I understand what emerged from the Business Committee meeting is that there would be 48 minutes of Topical Issue debate time given over to Tesco next week, which is not really what was indicated. Tesco is the largest private-sector employer in the country.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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People are being intimidated.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We will get an answer from the Whip.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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There is a bit of urgency as well, though.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I know.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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Putting this off until next week when it was agreed to have it this week is not acceptable.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Business Committee met and the Whip will give a response, after which we will move on to the next business.

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The House agreed the other day that we would convene a Business Committee meeting to discuss it. The Deputy is correct in that regard. We held a meeting on Tuesday and another this morning. It was agreed that we would give over the entire Topical Issue debate next Tuesday to the various Members of the House who want to discuss or make statements on the situation relating to Tesco. It was also noted this morning that the AAA-PBP member who was at the meeting was in dissent on that particular issue. However, the majority of the people at the Business Committee meeting this morning made a decision and that was-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We now move to-----

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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May I make one point?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There will be no debate. We move to No. 8c.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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There is an issue here that people agreeing things -----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Sorry, Deputy-----

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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May I just say one sentence?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I gave the Deputy the opportunity to raise the matter. I call Deputy Martin Kenny.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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People agreeing things in the House and then going behind closed doors and "unagreeing" them is not acceptable.

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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A Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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The Whip is not willing to allow a debate on Tesco this week when people are being intimidated by the employer.

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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First, nothing was agreed in the House other than to hold the meeting. The problem with the Deputy is that she does not like the mandate of those who sit around the table. We agreed this morning what we would do next week. Only one member dissented and it was the AAA-PBP representative.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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That concludes the matter. I call Deputy Martin Kenny.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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However, it was agreed in the House that there would be a debate. It is not for the Whip to "unagree" things behind closed doors.