I ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Electricity Supply Acts, 1927 to 1930.
Leave given.
Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill, 1931—First Stage.
When is it proposed to take the Second Stage?
On Friday next.
Will the Minister say when the Bill will be circulated?
I hope to-night.
Will the Minister give us any indication of the nature of the Bill or whether it contains such elaborate provisions that it would not be reasonable to ask us to take the Second Reading of it so soon as Friday next?
It contains two provisions only, to increase two sums of money.
I take it that if any Deputy objects to its being taken on Friday that objection will be sustained?
It will be heard.
Sustained?
No.
I take it that the Minister is asking for the suspension of the Standing Order in respect of this Bill not having given four days' notice as between its introduction and Second Reading.
No. He may ask to have the Second Stage fixed for Friday but seeing that the Bill will only be circulated to-morrow perhaps the Minister would favourably entertain a front bench objection if made on Friday?
If it was fortressed by any argument it would have to be looked to. If Deputies, when they see the Bill which is merely to increase two sums of money, can bring forward any argument against taking the Second Reading on Friday I will hear it.
Surely it is against all precedent to take the introduction of a Bill on Wednesday and to have the Second Reading of the Bill thrown at us on Friday. By special agreement I think it could be taken but that would be the most the Minister should ask.
I only ask for what I will get from the House.
You may take it, but we will oppose.
Objection is taken to fixing the Second Stage for Friday.
To taking it on Friday.
Or fixing it for Friday. If it is fixed for Friday the Minister will be at liberty to proceed. Does the Minister say the position is ——
If substantial objection is taken on Friday to the Second Reading Stage we will be prepared to carry it over to the following Wednesday but that is on the understanding, and on that we cannot give way, that the Bill will pass through all its stages next week.
I think where a Bill is introduced and the Second Reading is asked for the same week the most the Minister should ask for is cooperation. We are prepared to cooperate to the extent that if we see that this is a Bill that can be taken, and that it is only fair to assist the Minister, then in that way it is all right, but as a matter of right we are not going to give way upon it.
It is quite against the practice of the Ceann Comhairle to interpret agreements between Deputies, but the position is that we are making an order now for Friday. That may be objected to. As I understand the position of the President it is that if objection is taken on Friday the Bill will not be proceeded with, but the mere taking of objection cannot of itself prevent the Bill being proceeded with. I do not want to have any misunderstanding as to the position on the part of Deputies.
We are not accepting it on that basis.
Question put: "That the Second Stage of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill be fixed for Friday.
Question put.
The Dáil divided: Tá, 43; Níl, 36.
Tá
- Aird, William P.
- Alton, Ernest Henry.
- Beckett, James Walter.
- Bennett, George Cecil.
- Blythe, Ernest.
- Bourke, Séamus A.
- Cole, John James.
- Collins-O'Driscoll, Mrs. Margt.
- Conlon, Martin.
- Connolly, Michael P.
- Cosgrave, William T.
- Craig, Sir James.
- Crowley, James.
- Davis, Michael.
- Dolan, James N.
- Doyle, Peadar Seán.
- O'Donovan, Timothy Joseph.
- O'Higgins, Thomas.
- O'Leary, Daniel.
- O'Mahony, The.
- O'Sullivan, John Marcus.
- Redmond, William Archer.
- Duggan, Edmund John.
- Dwyer, James.
- Egan, Barry M.
- Fitzgerald, Desmond.
- Fitzgerald-Kenney, James.
- Gorey, Denis J.
- Henry, Mark.
- Hogan, Patrick (Galway).
- Kelly, Patrick Michael.
- Leonard, Patrick.
- Lynch, Finian.
- McFadden, Michael Og.
- McGilligan, Patrick.
- Mongan, Joseph W.
- Murphy, Joseph Xavier.
- Nally, Martin Michael.
- Roddy, Martin.
- Shaw, Patrick W.
- Sheehy, Timothy (West Cork).
- Thrift, William Edward.
- Wolfe, George.
Níl
- Aiken, Frank.
- Anthony, Richard.
- Blaney, Neal.
- Boland, Gerald.
- Boland, Patrick.
- Bourke, Daniel.
- Briscoe, Robert.
- Buckley, Daniel.
- Carty, Frank.
- Clery, Michael.
- Corry, Martin John.
- Crowley, Tadhg.
- Davin, William.
- Derrig, Thomas.
- De Valera, Eamon.
- Fahy, Frank.
- Fogarty, Andrew.
- Gorry, Patrick J.
- Goulding, John.
- Harris, Thomas.
- Jordan, Stephen.
- Kennedy, Michael Joseph.
- Killilea, Mark.
- Lemass, Seán F.
- Little, Patrick John.
- MacEntee, Seán.
- Mullins, Thomas.
- O'Connell, Thomas J.
- O'Dowd, Patrick Joseph.
- O'Kelly, Seán T.
- O'Reilly, Matthew.
- Ryan, James.
- Sexton, Martin.
- Sheehy, Timothy (Tipp.).
- Smith, Patrick.
- Ward, Francis C.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Duggan and Doyle; Níl, Deputies G. Boland and Clery.
Question declared carried.
Second Stage ordered for Friday, July 3rd.