With regard to the Local Government (Dublin) Bill, which appears as Item No. 14 on today's Order Paper, I propose to ask the House to take the Second Reading on Wednesday next.
Public Business. - Local Government (Dublin) Bill, 1929.
I think the President can hardly be serious, in view of the fact that it has taken the Government all the time that has elapsed during the Recess to make up their minds about the Bill. The Bill was only circulated yesterday. It contains over ninety clauses, and surely it is not suggested that we could give a Bill of that kind proper consideration in a week. We may be much faster on this side than the Government or the Government Party are, but even so, I do not propose that we should do in a week what they have taken so many years to decide.
I suggest that we have on Wednesday next the speech of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health in moving the Second Reading of the Bill, and that when we have heard his speech the Second Reading debate be postponed so as to give members an opportunity of considering the Bill in the light of the Minister's explanation.
Might I say that most of the time that has elapsed was occupied by the Government in simplifying the measure for the consideration of the Dáil.
Why did you fail then?
I do not quite appreciate the necessity for following procedure such as that suggested by Deputy O'Connell. In regard to the case made by Deputy O'Kelly, I would be prepared to meet that by taking the Second Reading of the Bill on this day fortnight, that is if there is definite opposition to taking the Second Reading of the Bill on this day week. As to what it proposes, the Bill is very simple. Detailed discussion on it will only arise on the Committee Stage. However, if Deputies would prefer to have some further time to examine the measure, I would be prepared to take the Second Reading of the Bill on this day fortnight.
Order for Second Reading discharged: to be taken on Wednesday, 26th February, 1930.