Before proceeding with the Order Paper, may we obtain some information from the President as to his intentions regarding this list of proposed legislation. The List contains 39 Bills, six or seven of which are already partly through the Dáil. As it seems to be dependent upon the chances of adjourning early in July, I think the Dáil generally would like to know whether the President proposes that these Bills should be discussed or read or whether they should simply be passed through because they are introduced. It appears from the titles, at any rate, that many of them are of a very important character, and if it is expected that the Deputies should read them, let alone consider them, frame amendments to them and discuss them, it is obviously impossible for more than one-fifth of them to be passed. And would it not be desirable to refrain from presenting them or pretending at least to get more than a first reading, so that we shall know exactly what we have to do between now and the middle of July?
BUSINESS OF THE DÁIL.
I proposed to say, whether Deputy Johnson asked the question or not, having regard to the extent of this legislative programme and the length of time that the Railway Bill is taking, that with very great regret I will have to ask the Dáil to sit late every night next week. With regard to the importance of these Bills, I do understand from the various Ministers who introduced them, that they are very important measures. I am not in a position to enter into the relative merits of their importance, but I am given to understand that a number of them are of a non-contentious character. I think, when read a first time, it will be seen that they do not lend themselves to very great discussion, nor will they occupy, I think, much time. Take the Companies (Reconstitution of Records) Bill. Everybody will realise the necessity for a measure of that sort. I think they will also realise it is not a measure which will demand a very great amount of time on the part of Deputies to read, discuss, or consider. It is possible that two or three of those Bills will be introduced in the Seanad. It is also possible that we may not be able to get through the final stages of some of the other measures. The Road Fund (Advances) Bill, although it occupies the same space as the Railways Bill in the programme, will be a Bill that, I think, will pass through automatically. I am not in a position to say what length of time or what amount of consideration will be necessary in the case of each individual Bill. We can only see that as they pass through. But as regards the entire programme, I do say from the representations that have been made to me by the various Ministers that it is most desirable that these Bills should get through. I do not think it is altogether wise to mention particular Bills, but in the absence of the Minister for Agriculture I should say in his opinion his Bills are the most important. As the Minister for Finance is here, I should say that his view is that his Bills—the Finance Bill and the Appropriation Bill—are of prime importance. I am not yet in a position to say whether after sitting late every night next week it might not lie also necessary to make a further inroad upon the physique of Deputies on the following week. Taking the programme as it stands, I should say that it is most desirable that we should get through almost every Bill that is on the programme before the adjournment. I think that I was interpreting the wishes of the Dáil when we put it down that the adjournment should take place on the 4th July. Even if the adjournment took place on that date it would be necessary for us to reassemble within the following fortnight to consider any amendments or recommendations that might come from the Seanad.
Surely the Minister does not think that. Bills like the Intoxicating Liquor Bill, the Dairy Produce Bill, the Marketing and Grading of Eggs Bill, the Improvement of Dairy and Stock Breeding Bill, the Retail Prices Bill (which is now, I notice, not likely to be introduced), the Local Government Bill, the Finance Bill, the Trade Facilities Bill, the Industrial and Commercial Property Protection Bill, in addition to the Estimates, are likely to be very far advanced even by the middle of July. In such circumstances would it not be more conducive to the proper conduct of business to decide upon which are absolutely essential and to confine attention to these?
Will the President tell us when we are to find time to read all these Bills if we are to sit late next week? Does he realise that in three days next week he is going to introduce thirteen Bills—a most unlucky number—and that among them are Bills like the Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Bill. That is a very technical Bill on which we should wish to consult people with technical qualifications. It is an immensely important Bill, because there are people in the Saorstát who cannot recover money that is due to them in England. Then there is the Trade Facilities Bill. That is a Bill which we should wish to compare with similar legislation elsewhere, if we could get the time. The Industrial and Commercial Property Protection Bill is, I think, a patent and copyright Bill. That, again, is a technical and a highly important measure, on the nature on which many of our constituents have views. How are we to get time to consider those views and draft amendments? The Defence Forces Bill, if it is a serious Bill, would itself take a month. The Intoxicating Liquor Bill and the Public Meetings Bill are also to be introduced in three days next week. We have got to try and sit down and read them, draft amendments, and consult people about them. It really is preposterous when I think of the weeks we wasted in the autumn—because the Government were not ready with their programme—when we used to adjourn on a Friday until the Wednesday week following—happy days now gone for ever! I think it is unfair for the Government to ask us to rush through legislation in this way. It is reducing the Dáil to a farce. I have not even referred to the Finance Bill or the Appropriation Bill, which must be got through, and the Estimates, which ought to be considered without the Closure. If the President is seriously intending to get through this programme there is only one thing to be done, that is, to ask the Dáil to meet on Mondays and sit every day from 10 o'clock in the morning until 10 o'clock at night. That is the only way we have got the faintest hope of discussing these Bills. If the President wishes to get through the whole of his business he had better drop the Railway Bill as well.
Looking down this list, it is difficult to determine which Bills are likely to confer the greatest amount of advantage upon the people. There is one Bill that the President promised before the Easter adjournment to introduce. I take it that the Retail Prices Bill is, one to control prices and deal with the profiteering that is so rampant. In view of the President's promise this Bill will be looked upon by the people, irrespective of what Ministers may think, as being a Bill which, if properly drafted, will deal with a very urgent question affecting every individual. Perhaps if Deputy O'Mara were here he might give his opinion upon the likely good effects of a Bill of this kind. People like Deputy O'Mara or Deputy Egan, who are in the confidence of the Government, would know something about the rough outline of this Bill. At any rate, I suggest that, instead of being 38th on the list and included amongst the Bills that are not likely to be introduced, it should be No. 1 on the list, so as to carry out the promise given by the President. As a matter of fact, Deputy O'Mara won his election——
Deputy O'Mara has nothing to do with this. The Deputy should keep to the programme and not mind Deputy O'Mara.
I suggest that the President should endeavour to carry out the promise he made, instead of putting this Bill in a place on the list which makes it unlikely that it will be introduced.
As to the Dáil sitting late at night, I think the President should consider the question of sitting earlier in the day rather than later at night. I also hope that the Minister for Industry and Commerce will stand to his promise to introduce the Unemployment Insurance Bill next week, as it is very urgent.
If the President is going to consider all the Bills which Deputies want introduced he may, I think, add a few more to the list. I must congratulate the President on his machinery. It seems to me that it must be an incubator that has turned out all those Bills. Perhaps it would be better if they were kept in the incubator until they became Acts, because if the Bills contained in this list are to be passed before the adjournment they certainly cannot be adequately discussed and will not get the attention they deserve. As a matter of fact, the Estimates, if properly discussed and given the attention they deserve, would occupy almost all the time up to the adjournment. I suggest that the President should make a careful selection from these Bills, and only bring forward the most urgent of them.
Appoint Commissioners.
I think the President ought to appoint a Committee, on which every interest in the Dáil will be represented, to select the Bills, so that the Bills which any particular party want will not be thrown out. I think it is impossible to deal with this list of Bills and also with the Estimates in the time allotted. We would be sitting not alone every day, Sunday included, but day and night. You would want relays of Deputies to get through the programme.
I think Deputy Gorey has really touched upon the vital point in connection with this, that the turning out of these Bills is not an easy matter. As I explained in the Seanad, the draftsman has really broken down with the amount of work he has to do.
Are we to break down in addition?
I hope not. If there is one motion I would be delighted to see passed it is one for a change of Government, so that other people would experience some of the difficulties which we have been experiencing for some time.
Will the President move that?
I would have no objection. I think there would be more people breaking down.
Any of us will move it if the President promises the backing of the Government Party.
There is one Bill on the list which takes up as much space as the Railway Bill and which will practically be only a one-clause Bill—the Damage to Property (Compensation Amendment) Bill. Although the list of Bills looks very formidable, I think it will be found in practice that quite a number of them will not put much strain upon Deputies. That Bill simply gives the Minister for Finance certain authority in respect of report cases which he has already in other cases, that of issuing bonds in respect of furniture. Deputies will remember that there was to be £500 in cash for the first £500 granted, and then 50 per cent. of any subsequent amount, up to £2,000 in cash altogether. That is a very simple measure. In this matter the Government are in the hands of the Dáil. We can only hope that due consideration will be given to measures of first class importance. I am afraid that I will have to disagree with Deputy Cooper and Deputy Gorey so far as the Estimates are concerned. I think Deputies will have to be satisfied with a shorter discussion of the Estimates if we are to get away on the 4th or the 18th July. Practically every Department which has anything to do with the Dáil really requires an adjournment for a couple of months in the summer, and while we may get through the programme if we sit later, the result will not be very satisfactory.
There must be a little give and take in this matter with such a large programme. Deputy Cooper has mentioned the Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Bill. We have been promising for something, like two years to bring in that Bill. If the Deputies look up the legislation enacted since we first sat here I think it can scarcely be denied that it was a very considerable programme. It was necessary. The importance and necessity of it will be admitted. If Deputies were in our position they would appreciate it. I do not think it is possible to sit from 10 in the morning until 10 at night. There is a good deal of administrative work to be done in the various Departments. and Deputies will notice that, during the discussions on very important Bills, Ministers have not been able to attend here.
What hour does the President say?
To sit until 10 or 10.30 p.m.
Would it not be better to begin earlier in the day, at 2 o'clock?
I am not satisfied that 2 o'clock would be a very suitable hour, but I am in the hands of the Dáil. I cannot stress too much the case made by the various Ministers for these Bills.
The President has not realised that we have not time to find out what Bills are important, and what Bills are not. We have not time to read or go into them. Some of these Bills have been under discussion by the Executive Council and the Government Departments for six months. I know that the Industrial and Commercial Property Protection Bill has been in draft for more than six months. The Executive Council take six months to consider it and then put it up to us and expect us to pass it in less than six weeks. That is really not treating the Dáil fairly. Would the President consider the question of carrying over the Estimates until the autumn? I know it is not usual, but I think it is the only way we can have a satisfactory discussion on them. That is one of the primary duties we are sent here for. If it is not possible to discuss them adequately now, why not carry some of them over to the autumn so that they can be properly discussed?
Will the President deal with my point, as to whether he is in a position, in view of the promise he made, to introduce the Retail Prices Bill before the adjournment so that if not passed this Session we will have time to examine it during the two months?
That raises a question as to what are really the important measures. I realise the importance of that particular measure as much as another, but I cannot see that it is possible to get agreement on the matters concerned in that Bill in time. As to the statement that a Bill has been before the Executive Council for six months, that is an exaggeration, as I suppose in the whole of that time the Bill was not before it for two hours. The Executive Council has a pretty considerable programme.
On a point of explanation, what I meant by saying that a Bill has been in the hands of the Executive Council for six months is, that the Attorney-General showed me a draft of it more than six months ago.
Deputy Cooper is in the very fortunate position of having inside information. Is it possible to send some of these Bills to Committee in view of the fact that a good deal of the speeches consist merely of a multiplication of the same ideas and waste of time?
Perhaps if more Deputies spoke there would not be so much duplication.
If there was some agreement on that suggestion it might be a way out.
We are not getting very far. Next week might be described as the week of introduction. There are going to be, not only 13 but 16 Bills introduced because the Pilotage Orders and Trades Facilities Bills were not introduced yet, although both are on the list for this week. The Dáil will not be able I think to judge adequately which is important and which is not until these have at least been introduced and circulated. At the moment the Dáil has simply to accept the statement of the President. If the Bills were ready and could be introduced and circulated to Deputies in one day, Deputies would then know if they were important or not or whether particular Bills would take a particularly long time. If they cannot be introduced and circulated the Dáil cannot make up its mind and neither can a Committee. There is no use discussing the matter here or in Committee until the Bills are actually in the hands of the Deputies. If the Bills are ready something could be done. If they are not ready discussion is useless.
It is the Committee Stages of the Bills that causes the trouble and wastes time. It is not unusual for Deputies to speak half a dozen times on an amendment.
Quite unusual. That is quite wrong. It is never done.
Between long speeches and interruptions, and in particular Deputy Davin——
I do not take your ruling.
Would the President consider the advisability of getting a Senator to introduce all the legal Bills in the Seanad? We would save more time in that way.
The Attorney General is considering that point.
Would the President develop his argument about the Retail Prices Bill from where he was interrupted? Is it the intention to drop it?
No.
Dangle it before our eyes.
For the next election, I suppose.
What conclusion can we come to on this programme?
It seems to me that it is the duty of the Executive Council to reconsider the whole list. We have the Railways Bill, and, with all the amendments, I cannot see that we will be able to conclude it next week. We have the Local Government Bill, which is a very contentious measure that requires, and is worthy of, considerable attention. If it is to get the attention that it is worthy of, it cannot be rushed through. We cannot sit down and study every new measure day by day and at the same time find time to consider amendments that should be put up to a Bill like the Local Government Bill. There are agricultural measures promised for the last twelve months, and they are at the bottom of the list. I consider that the Executive Council will have to consider the whole list again.
It seems to me that this discussion is not getting us very much forward. We have 38 Bills, the contents of which we are supposed to absorb before the 4th July. It seems to me that you can only get along with the business as quickly as possible. Since I became a member of the Dáil I am getting circulars about the questions to be dealt with in these Bills every day.
I wonder would the Dáil decide that there is to be an adjournment on the 4th July?
That is the point.
And having decided that, simply proceed with the business that they think fit to transact in the interval. I do not know if it is proper for me to make a suggestion, but I must say that is the way I feel.