Before the Minister moves the Second Reading, I would like to enter a protest. We got the Bill this morning, and is it fair, right or proper, even though it is such a short Bill, that we should be expected to discuss it to-day? I do not think it is. The Bill admittedly is not a very complex one, but, nevertheless, I feel it should not be expected of the House that a Bill only circulated and received by members this morning should be discussed on the Second Reading to-day. The Bill is not so complex that it could not have been introduced a month ago. I certainly enter a strong protest against procedure of that kind.
In Committee on Finance. - Housing Bill, 1930—Second Stage.
I have not the slightest desire to press the Second Reading if any Deputy objects to taking it to-day. I would postpone it until to-morrow.
I do not know that to-morrow is very much better either.
I leave myself entirely in the hands of the House in the matter. It is expected the Dáil will rise next week. The Bill simply contemplates an additional amount of money under the Act of 1929. That is all the Bill is intended to do. I do not know whether I said that at any particular point before. If, however, there is any objection to taking the Bill now I can arrange to take it on a date that will suit Deputies. The only point is that if the Bill is not taken until next week I would have to ask for all stages to be taken next week. There is not very much to be said on it. It might be just as well, I suggest, to take the Second Stage now. It is not a Bill that can be particularly amended on Committee, but if there was any desire to debate the subject at greater length than Deputies are prepared to debate it now it could be debated on the Fifth Stage.
I would like to hear what other sides of the House think about it. It certainly appears to me to be a rather tall order that we should be asked to debate now a Bill that was only received by post this morning. For my own part, anything I have to say on it I am quite ready to say without having given the Bill any study. On the question of housing generally I could say what I want to say to-night just as well as to-morrow. I think that it is absolutely wrong in principle and is a procedure for which the House should not stand. After all, the question of housing is important, and a Bill dealing with such an important question and which was only circulated to members this morning should not be discussed this evening. If nobody else but myself objects, perhaps, it could be taken to-morrow, but I would enter a strong protest which, I hope, will be borne in mind when such procedure is again contemplated.
As the Bill deals with grants given to public utility societies and to individuals building houses, I suggest that it would be wiser to postpone the Second Reading until next week, as the public might like to read the Bill. It is really legislation by reference and people might like to compare it with the original Act.
Does the Minister agree?
Very well; put it down for Wednesday next.
Order discharged. Second Reading postponed until Wednesday, 18th June.
In connection with the Second Reading on Wednesday next, may I again remark that as the House will probably rise next week it might be well that any amendments which Deputies may have in mind in connection with the Bill should be ready on Wednesday, as I will be asking for the Committee and Final Stages on Thursday.
The Dáil went into Committee.