The next item on the Orders of the Day is the second stage of the Ministers and Secretaries Bill, 1923.
CIVIL SERVICE REGULATION (No. 2) BILL, 1923. - MINISTERS AND SECRETARIES BILL, 1923.
On a point of order I would like to point out that when we adjourned on the last day I think it was understood that this Bill would be circulated immediately. At least it was given a first reading on the understanding that it would be circulated and that members would be able to read it before the Second Stage came on. My information is that it has not been circulated, and I submit, therefore, it is not in order to take the Second Stage to-day.
The Second Stage was ordered for to-day and appears on the Order paper in accordance with the order made by the Dáil itself. Since the Bill has not been circulated I take it that it is the intention of the Minister to move to discharge the order for second reading to-day and to put in on the Paper for another day.
It was unfortunate that we asked for the second reading on the first day we met after the adjournment. There were a couple of points outstanding which had to be dealt with before the draft of the Bill could be circulated and, unfortunately it was not found possible to deal with them in the interval. As the Bill has been read a first time, I would ask that the Order for second reading to-day should be discharged and the Bill put down for second reading on this day fortnight.
The motion then is that the Order for second reading on the Paper to-day be discharged and that the Bill be put down for second reading this day fortnight.
Question put and agreed to.