It is proposed to take the business as on the Order Paper, Nos. 3, 7, 8, 9 and 4. If No. 3 be not finished by 6 o'clock, business will be interrupted from 6 to 7, when Nos. 7, 8 and 9 will be taken. Public Business will not be interrupted at 9 o'clock to take Private Deputies' Business.
Order of Business.
On that proposal would like to point out that some amendments have been submitted to item No. 9. The normal purpose of the adjournment from 6 to 7 o'clock is to enable those who have been taking an active interest in the Constitution to obtain an interval, but if it is proposed to take item No. 9 between 6 and 7 o'clock, the time set aside for the interval, it will be inconvenient for those who want to participate in the discussion on that Bill and who have amendments to move to it. I would suggest, therefore, that item No. 9—Executive Powers (Consequential Provisions) Bill, 1937—be excluded from the discussion between 6 and 7 o'clock. If it is desired, item No. 9 could be taken now and disposed of if it is considered that the matter is one of urgency. I submit that it is unfair to take it during the time that is set aside for the interval for those who are actively interested in the Constitution debate.
In the ordinary course, Nos. 7 and 8 will not occupy very much time, and, so as not to leave the House without business, we have put down the items that I have read out. Item No. 9 is the only other Bill that we have available for discussion during that time.
Why not give the pigs a whirl?
The Minister has items 4 and 5 available.
I would not have come here to-day only that I thought the House was going to take the Pigs Bill.
Keep it until next Sunday, when the Deputy can talk about it in Monaghan.
May I call attention to the fact that last week, when there was not sufficient business to occupy the House between six and seven o'clock, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle accepted a motion to adjourn the House until seven o'clock when discussion was resumed on the Constitution. If that was correct procedure last week, and I have no doubt whatever but that it was, what is the difficulty about doing the same this evening?
We have to get through the business.
I agree, but surely we can discuss items 4 and 5 during the interval. What is the difficulty about doing that. I protest against this. I got no intimation of any proposal to take this business until a quarter to three this afternoon. I did not get the slightest information from the Government whips, or from the Government side, that it was proposed to take the three items mentioned by the Vice-President in the interval between six and seven o'clock this evening. It is rather strange that that information should be withheld from a Deputy who had a natural interest in one of these particular matters. I suggest that the only purpose for insisting on the inclusion of No. 9 is to handicap —and that is the only effect of it— those who are interested in the Bill, and the adjournment of the Dáil for a half-hour will not seriously affect the matter.
I suggest that if the House will agree to Schedule Nos. 7 and 8, and then give the pigs an hour, it is very likely that we will not reach the pigs. However, I am sure that, if we do, the Minister, at least, could make some introductory remarks, and then we could get back to the Constitution.
But that is a waste of time.
Is a half-hour so essential as all that?
Well, if the Minister for Agriculture agrees to it, I do not see any objection.
Dr. Ryan
Of course, I agree.
Then No. 4 will be taken instead of No. 9.