I suggest to the Dáil that the Second Stage of this Bill be passed without discussion and the Committee Stage can be left over until the Winter Session.
CORONERS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1926 (SEANAD)—SECOND STAGE.
Can the Minister give us any idea what advantage would be derived by taking the Second Stage now? I must confess that I have not read the Bill and I do not know whether we would be justified in giving it a Second Reading. Unless we have some explanation in regard to it from the Minister, I think we should not give the Bill a Second Reading. There is no advantage in giving it a Second Reading now if it is to be deferred until the next session. I think the better course would be to defer discussion or even an explanation until the new Session.
Perhaps I was wrong in putting forward what was only a personal point of view. My own outlook is that this Bill is eminently a Committee Bill. I would not propose to take any part in a Second Reading debate when on Committee I might have suggestions to make for an alteration of the Bill. As to the advantage of taking a Second Reading now, I had an eye on the sort of situation that is apt to arise at the beginning of a Session when, for the first week, there is a dearth of business until legislation gets going and a certain number of Bills have been dealt with on Second Reading and the ordinary process of business of the Session commences. If the Second Reading of this bill were taken to-day we could take up the Committee Stage when the House re-assembles in November. If there is any objection to taking the Second Reading I have no keen interest in rushing it.
My point is that the Bill purports to change a very old-established law regarding the holding of coroners' inquests with the aid of a jury. That is a very vital change. We are asked to give the Bill a Second Reading—that is, to approve the principle of the Bill—without any explanation or discussion. I think that is undesirable and I oppose the Second Reading on that ground only.
In that case I suggest that the Order be discharged and we can take the Second Reading after the Recess.
Order discharged accordingly. Second Reading to be taken when the House re-assembles after the recess.