When will the Bill be circulated?
Seanad Eireann (Consequential Provisions) Bill, 1936—First Stage.
Leave granted to introduce a Bill "entitled an Act to make or provide for the making of such amendments of the law and such adaptations and modifications of Acts of the Oireachtas and instruments made thereunder as may be necessary in consequence of the abolition of Seanad Eireann as a constituent House of the Legislature created by Article 12 of the Constitution."—(Minister for Education).
Bill read the First Time; Second Stage to be taken on Tuesday, 9th June.
I hope to-morrow, but at latest on Thursday.
If the Bill is not circulated until Thursday, will the Second Stage be postponed for a further week, because a Bill of this character will require some consideration?
On the contrary, the Bill is a simple measure. I shall do my best to have it in the hands of Deputies to-morrow; but, even if it is not, there should be no difficulty about taking the Second Stage next week. In fact, I was going to ask the House to take all stages of the Bill next week if possible.
If the Bill is in our hands to-morrow no objection will be raised to taking it next week, but if the Bill is not in our hands until Thursday, as country Deputies return home early on Friday, adequate time will not be afforded these Deputies to consider it. We are now legislating under a mono-cameral form of government and a closer examination of legislation is therefore necessary. I submit that if the Bill is not in our hands until Thursday, its consideration should be deferred until the week following, the week which ensues after Thursday when we receive the Bill. I fix you with notice, Sir, that we shall resist vigorously any attempt to take this Bill next week if it is not in our hands before Thursday.