It was arranged to-day that before we would go into Committee on Estimates the question regarding the reference of the Railways (Existing Officers and Servants) Bill to a Special Committee would be settled.
RAILWAYS (EXISTING OFFICERS AND SERVANTS) BILL, 1926.
I move:—
"That the Railways (Existing Officers and Servants) Bill, 1926, be referred to a Special Committee of 15 Deputies to be nominated by the Committee of Selection and that the quorum of the Committee be 9.
That the Committee report back not later than Wednesday, 12th May."
That gives a very short time for a report, except what is anticipated is an interim report.
I calculated that the time was practically a fortnight. Assuming that it took two days in sittings out of eight days in all, it should be easily possible for them to report in that time.
I am looking to the time table. The Minister promised to circulate the proposed amendments within the next two or three days. Other amendments will then have to be considered in the light of those amendments. Next Saturday is the 1st May, so that there will not be very much time. It is not a matter of very great importance, because we can ask the Dáil to extend the time.
The railwaymen's legal advisers informed them that it would be very difficult to amend the Bill, as it stood originally, in a way that would make it suitable, without bringing in destructive amendments. I might inform the President, too, that it will be necessary to have some consultation between the leaders of the railwaymen and their legal advisers. I do not think that would be possible until we have a supply of the Official Report of the debates of the past couple of days. These will have to be carefully studied by the legal advisers. I would like the President to take these things into consideration. I make the statement without any desire to obstruct the further progress of his measure. I realise that it would be useless to do so even if I wished to do so.
I am prepared to alter the date to Friday, 14th May. That would give a longer time than the Dáil would give to a matter of that sort.
The Committee can report earlier if it is ready.
Agreed to alter the date for reporting back to Friday, 14th May.
Question put and agreed to.
The Dáil went into Committee on Finance.