Vol. 47 No. 11
We propose to take the business on the Order paper in the following order: No. 6—National Health Insurance Bill; Number 7—Trade Loans (Guarantee) (Amendment) Bill; Number 9—Cement Bill, 1933; Number 8— Public Hospitals Bill, and Number 10 —Foreshore Bill, 1933.
With regard to next week, Thursday will be Ascension Thursday, and a holyday. It is proposed, therefore, that the Dáil will meet on Tuesday, Wednesday and, possibly, Friday.
Can the Vice-President inform the House now, or before the adjournment to-night, if the usual facilities will be afforded for the consideration of Private Members' business to-morrow, and in what way Private Members' time may be interfered with as a result of the rearrangement of the programme for next week?
Next week, we will deal with next week's business, and to-morrow we will deal with tomorrow's business.
Can the Minister answer the question as to whether Private Members' time, which is usually available on Friday, will be available to-morrow?
When there is important financial business at this time of the year Private Members' time is frequently taken, and it may have to be taken to-morrow.
Perhaps the Vice-President will see the advisability of letting us know what the position is before the House adjourns to-night.
As it is proposed that the House will sit on Tuesday and Wednesday and that Deputies will be asked to remain over for Friday——
Possibly.
If they have to, will the Vice-President say what business will be taken on Friday?
We have on the Order Paper, as it stands, sufficient business to occupy us for three full days next week.
What is the business for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, for instance?
The business on the Order Paper.
How is the business on the Order Paper to be distributed? I am not denying that the Vice-President has enough business on the Order Paper for next week but is he taking the Financial Resolutions, for instance, on Tuesday or Wednesday?
The Financial Resolutions are down for next Friday and, if we meet on that day, they will be taken.
Are we to take it that the decision to meet on Friday of next week means that special business has been allocated by the Government for next week and that if that business is not finished by Wednesday night, the House will be asked to meet on Friday?
Yes.
What then is the special business?
The business on the Order Paper.
It is not proposed to deal with the whole of it.(Interruption). We do not want the introduction of stupidity. We want to have the matter clarified. From the introduction of the word “possibly” by the Vice-President, some business requires to be finished next week. I think the House is entitled to know what business the Vice-President really desires to get done on Tuesday and Wednesday which if not done, will have to be dealt with on Friday.
I suppose I had better read out the list on the Order Paper. National Health Insurance Bill. We shall probably conclude the Committee Stage of that Bill to-day. Trade Loans (Guarantee) (Amendment) Bill, Public Hospitals Bill—we may get through the Committee Stage of that Bill to-day. There are then the Cement Bill and the Foreshore Bill. I do not know what position the Foreshore Bill is in. We may possibly deal with it to-day. Then we have the Estimates for Public Services and the Public Services (Temporary Economies) Bill. That Bill will probably take a considerable time.
When will it be taken?
On Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, if two days are necessary.
We are getting gradually to the point on which we wanted information. The Government Whip asked to-day that the "Cuts" Bill be taken on Tuesday and Wednesday. If that is the programme for these two days, are we to meet on Friday for other business, and, if so, what other business?
If the House can deal with the business outlined on Tuesday and Wednesday, then, if it desires to meet on Friday, the business will be the Financial Resolutions.
It is quite apparent that the Vice—President does not know what the business will be next week.
In reply to a question put by Deputy Davin relative to Private Members' time, the Vice-President said that he could not give a definite assurance that time would be available for Private Members' business to-morrow as there might be important financial business. I should like to know what is the important financial business referred to.
I did not say that important financial business might, or would, be taken to-morrow.
I should like to ask the Vice-President if there is any business so important on the Order Paper or in the minds of the Government for to-morrow as would justify the Government taking Private Members' time.
Yes.
Would the Vice-President indicate what that business is?
We shall tell you to-morrow.
The Vice-President indicated the order of business for to-day as 6, 7, 9 and 8. Later, when stating what would be done to-day, he mentioned the Hospitals Bill, but he did not mention——
The Cement Bill is to be taken before the Hospitals Bill.
Then the Vice-President has not changed his mind?
The order is 6, 7, 9, 8, 10, 11.
Would the Vice-President consider the feasibility of postponing the Foreshore Bill and the Estimates until the week after next? Is there urgency about any of the Estimates?
We have only got the Education Estimate through so far. There was some discussion on the Land Commission Estimate. The Estimates usually take a considerable time, and if we can get through some of them this week we shall be glad.
