Before the Dáil goes into Committee on the Intoxicating Liquor Bill perhaps I will be permitted to ask the President if, on the rising of the Dáil to-day, he will be able to give some indication as to the course of business during the later stages of this week; what Bills are to be taken, what stages, and on what days, so that we may have a fair indication of what the business before us will be.
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE. - BUSINESS OF THE DÁIL.
I gave last week an indication of what the business would be—the Intoxicating Liquor Bill and the other two Bills, and a discussion on the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, which the Ceann Comhairle suggested should be held on Friday.
It might be better, before we take up No. 5, that we should take up Nos. 6 and 7, as they are measures of considerable urgency, I understand.
I hope you will give us some time to get these things together. We were counting upon the Intoxicating Liquor Bill taking the next two or three hours, and if we are going to take the other Bills we will require some time.
I would appeal to Deputy Johnson not to object to the taking of the Oireachtas Witnesses Oaths Bill, which is very short. It simply establishes the principle that each House, or any Committee of the House, may administer an oath to a witness, and that any witness who gives false evidence under that oath will be liable to penalties for perjury. Unless this Bill becomes law all the Private Bills of the Oireachtas will be held up, because Committees will have no power to administer an oath, and in a contentious matter that is of some importance. If it were possible, I would ask the Dáil to pass this Bill through the Committee Stage to-day and to allow the Report Stage to be taken to-morrow. I am the only member of the Joint Committee on Private Bills able to speak on this matter, because one of my colleagues is in the Chair and the other is not here; but this matter has been under consideration for some time.
This Bill was introduced in the Seanad on the 9th of July. Copies were in the hands of Deputies at that time, although I admit they had not much time to read them owing to pressure of other business. The Bill only raises the simple principle of allowing Committees to administer an oath and punish those who give false evidence, and therefore, I would ask not only Deputy Johnson but the Dáil as a whole to allow it to pass through Committee now. No amendment of any kind has been tabled.