I would like to take the Fourth Stage this evening, and to get this Bill out of the way if there is no objection. If there is an objection, I will take it on Wednesday next. We intend to adjourn until Wednesday next, because there is a large volume of business to be considered. There is a good deal of business for next week.
GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SALARY AND ESTABLISHMENT BILL. 1923. - DAIL RESUMES.
The question then is to suspend Standing Order 74 in order to take the Report Stage this evening. Is there any objection?
I have no objection to the passing of the Bill here to-night, but I suggest that surely there is some other business besides the Fourth Stage of this Bill that could bring us here tomorrow and Friday.
No, there is nothing ready. There is absolute congestion at the moment.
We have notice of no other business that would occupy us this week.
We have quite a number of Bills almost ready, but we are not in a position to deal with them yet, and unless we get a couple of days I do not think it would be possible to have them in order before next week. We will have plenty of business to occupy the Dáil then and for some time longer. But at present we are congested with the material we have on hands.
I take it that the Minister is disappointed that the Financial Resolutions have been non-contentious, and that he was counting upon a longer discussion in which a larger number of Deputies would show their interest in financial matters.
No, unfortunately that is not so. The discussions on the Financial Resolutions occupied even longer than I anticipated. As I explained to the Deputies before, we have in hands quite a number of important Bills which embrace a very wide field, and which require very careful consideration. They have been approved of in principle, but the interpretations of them are not yet to hand. Some of them will, I think, surprise Deputies when they come before them. Others of them are almost in a state to be brought forward, but just require a few finishing touches, and although Deputies may not realise it, the amount of time taken here interferes a good deal with us in this initial stage. If we were once well started I should say that it would not interfere, but in the midst of the work of the setting up of the Saorstát, new departments had to be fixed up, and in some cases, as in the case of the Ministry of Finance, as is known, an almost new Department had to be reconstructed since this time last year. There is only one person on the staff now that was there at this time last year. All that absorbs a good deal of time, and although there is cause for complaint on the part of Deputies, serious cause for complaint, I do say that we have not neglected our duty in any way that I know of. We have done the best that is in us to provide business and to keep the Dáil going; but it would be unfair to the Dáil to put down business without having given it consideration beforehand.
I expect the Minister for Finance will be tackling the complaints of the Leader of the Dáil of bringing Deputies here from all parts of the country and paying their railway expenses for one day's sitting.
Will one of the surprise packets be the new Land Bill?
The Land Bill will not be ready for Wednesday, I should say.
Question: "That Standing Order 74 be suspended to enable the Report Stage of the Governor-General's Salary and Establishment Bill to be taken," put and agreed to.
I move:—"That the Bill be received for final consideration."
Question put and agreed to.
I move:—"That the Bill do now pass."
Question put and agreed to.
This is a Money Bill within the meaning of Article 35 of the Constitution.