I beg to move that we take all the time to-day for Government business, with this reservation, that I gave an undertaking to Deputy Wilson last week that his motion would be taken to-day. I propose, therefore, to take that question at 5.30 o'clock for an hour, that is if he so desires. It will be also necessary to move that we sit late to-night. I take it that I cannot move the two matters at the one time.
ALLOCATION OF TIME OF THE DAIL. - LATE SITTING.
We will take the question of sitting late first— at what hour do you propose to rise?
Ten o'clock.
Ordered—"That the Dáil sit later than 8.30 p.m., and that the Order of the Day for the adjournment be taken not later than 10 p.m."
What portion of the Orders of the Day will be taken, and in what order? I ask this question because it is clearly impossible to take up all the business on the Orders of the Day at this sitting.
I would ask what is to become of the motion I have tabled, and for which the President was courteous enough to indicate that he would give me the first opportunity to discuss?
I will ask the Deputy to leave it until Friday, and I propose not to interfere with the consideration of the motion that day.
Will the President indicate what time he will allot to it on Friday?
From 2 to 4 o'clock, I presume. The President's suggestion is that Deputy Wilson's motion should be taken up at 5.30, and that we adjourn for an hour at 6.30. Is that agreed to?
I agree. The substance of the debate can also be got in under the Bills that are before the Dáil at the moment. At the same time I am not inclined to withdraw the motion.
The position is that we have agreed to sit until 10 o'clock. No. 14 on the Orders of the Day, the motion by Deputy Milroy, is not to be taken until Friday, and Deputy Wilson's motion is to be taken at 5.30.
I propose to take from Nos. 1 to 9 inclusive, and in that order. Then I propose to take No. 12, if we arrive that far.
What does the Minister propose to do with regard to No. 10, the Unemployment Insurance Bill, 1924?
The proposal is that the Intoxicating Liquor Bill, 1924, shall take precedence of the Unemployment Insurance Bill.
That means that we are not going to deal with the Unemployment Insurance Bill at all to-day?
I think it means that it will not be dealt with at all to-day. While I have made it clear to the Minister for Justice that I gave him precedence to-day, I made it equally clear that he will not get it another day. The Unemployment Insurance Bill comes on to-morrow, whether or not he finishes to-night.
Does the Minister consider that the Licensing Bill is of more importance and of more urgency than the Unemployment Insurance Bill?
That is a matter of resolution between the Minister for Justice and myself. I was more borne than convinced by him. I realise that the Unemployment Insurance Bill has been delayed, and is still further delayed by this postponement, and I propose to ask the Dáil to take such steps as will enable the latter stages of the Bill to be taken together, so that there will be no delay.
Deputies at this side of the Chamber object to these proceedings. This Bill has been promised for a considerable time. It has been delayed, and now it is going to be further delayed. One day would mean a great difference. If there is any way in which we can show our protest against this proceeding we will take it.
There are already four Bills on the Order Paper for to-morrow, and they will have precedence over everything postponed from to-day. If the Minister for Industry and Commerce has been convinced by the arguments of the Minister for Justice, can he explain why the Minister for Justice is not here to convince us? We have certain rights in this matter.
I suggest that we take the Unemployment Insurance Bill after we finish with the Railway Bill. It is very much more urgent than any of the other matters on the Orders of the Day. The Health Insurance Bill may be very important to the National Health people, but it is not important to the people; they would be far better without it. The Dublin Police Bill is not at all urgent.
Nor is the Liquor Bill urgent either.
There is a possibility of portion of to-day being lost if we abide strictly by the Orders of the Day as set out here. It is not very likely that we will get on to No.10 to-night. I have guaranteed to take it to-morrow. For the problematical loss of a portion of a day, I guarantee, with the leave of the Dáil, to make it up on the later stages. We are working to the 29th June, and that sets the pace for me in trying to get this Bill through the Dáil. The Minister for Justice cannot be here because he is in the Seanad dealing with Bills there.
We all know the Minister for Justice may be thirsting to show his sympathy with the licensing trade, in connection with the Intoxicating Liquor Bill, but we on these benches take the view—and it is the considered view of our party—that the Unemployment Insurance Bill is much more important than the Intoxicating Liquor Bill. It is a matter of indifference to thousands of workpeople whether drink is sold at 7 o'clock or 9 o'clock. They have no money to purchase it nor have they work to provide the money. The Government, seeing that, are unable or unwilling to provide work for the workers, and in the circumstances they should proceed to provide a proper system of maintenance for those people who cannot find employment.
The mere fact of postponing the Bill to-day does not prejudice its ultimate expedition in the Dáil, and in those circumstances I think the objection might be withdrawn. The Minister has undertaken to press for early consideration of the measure so that it will not be delayed by reason of this temporary interruption.
Can we rely on it that the Bill will be taken the first thing to-morrow?
If the President so desires.
Certainly.
Do I understand the Minister to say that the Minister for Justice is in the Seanad?
That is so.
Will the Minister allow me to point out that the Seanad will not sit until next Wednesday?
I am very glad to have an opportunity of correcting Deputy Cooper. It will be found that I am quite accurate in my statement. The Minister is attending a special Committee of the Seanad.
The arrangement is that Nos. 1 to 9 on the Orders of the Day be taken in succession; Nos. 10 and 11 will be postponed in favour of No. 12, and No. 10 will be the first business to-morrow.