The business will be taken as on the Order Paper up to No. 8, No. 1 to be taken in its appropriate place, the business to be interrupted at 6 o'clock to take No. 7 and to be resumed not later than 7 o'clock.
Business of Dáil.
Could the President give us some idea of the Parliamentary programme from now to Christmas?
The moment we get through certain measures which are essential and urgent we can have the Recess, but I am afraid that we shall have to meet again early in January— probably before the middle of January. The business which has to be got through before the Recess is as follows:—The Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Bill, the Constitution (Consequential Provisions) Bill, the Defence Forces Bill and the Housing (Labourers) Bill.
Is it intended to finish the Committee Stage of No. 5 (Shop Assistants Bill) before Christmas?
The Committee Stage, if possible.
What about the Hours of Trading Bill?
So far as possible, after the Bills which are essential have been completed, we shall proceed with the Committee Stage.
Is it intended to meet next week?
That will be depend on the progress which we find is being made during the remaining days of this week. If we found that sufficient progress was being made so that we would have hope of going further in the following week, we might be able to arrange matters. Measures may be left over which would make it quite clear that we would have to meet next week.
Suppose the Report Stage of No. 8, the Committee Stage of the Defence Forces Bill, the Second Stage of the Housing Bill and the Committee Stage of the Constitution (Consequential Provisions) Bill are passed this week, is it intended to meet next week to deal with the remaining stages of these Bills?
We must get the Bills I have mentioned.
All stages?
Yes. We shall have to sit until they are disposed of.
Does that mean taking three stages of the Labourers Bill in one week?
There is urgency about that Bill in this sense—that certain grants cannot be made until it is passed. They are being held up.
I am merely asking for information; I do not say that it is not urgent.
It is urgent.
Would the President indicate what procedure he intends to adopt in respect of No. 8— Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Bill?
I am anxious to meet the House so far as possible, but we are pressed for time. If I thought the Opposition would co-operate with us, we might recommit the Bill again so as to give the greatest possible opportunity for examination, but, ordinarily, owing to the pressure of time, we would be compelled to take re-commitment only in regard to the new amendments. I dislike very much not giving every member of the House an opportunity of going through the whole Bill. This is the first time members have got the Bill in really complete form, and it is only at this stage that they can see the general sequence. Amendments might occur to a Deputy on reading the Bill as it is. I think it would be better to wait until Thursday to deal with this Bill.
You are speaking of the Seanad Electoral Bill?
Yes. I think there is something to be said for waiting until Thursday so as to give everybody an opportunity of putting in amendments. I should have to see the situation on Thursday night before I could answer the question the Deputy has put. I cannot take a definite decision until I see what amendments we may get in before Thursday. Most of our amendments have been already circulated.
We have received the Government amendments.
Not all of them, I understand.
A few others have yet to come. Our list is not absolutely completed. Members of the House who are interested in this matter will only be able to get a fair idea of amendments which they think may be required when they see our amendments as well as the Bill itself. I think that it is better to postpone consideration of this Bill until Thursday. On Thursday night, we shall take stock. Until then, I do not think that I can commit myself as to what we shall do. I think we would, at the start at all events, have commitment merely of the amendments. Having done that, we shall see how we will stand on Thursday night.
I am afraid that that procedure is altogether beyond me. When we get through the amendments, are we to re-commit the whole Bill again?
No. We shall have a Report Stage, I take it, on the whole Bill after recommitment in regard to the amendments. If that Report Stage were taken next day, there would be very little opportunity for anybody to put in amendments so that it may be necessary to meet next week so as to provide for the possibility of some amendments on Report.
Suppose we meet next week for the purpose of dealing with the Report Stage, does the President hope to get the Report and Final Stages that week?
Certainly.
When are we likely to see the remainder of the Government amendments?
They are being drafted. You may have them this evening or in the morning.
Up to what time will Private Deputies be able to submit amendments?
The Ceann Comhairle will have to be consulted about that.
Up to Thursday afternoon, I suggest.
Surely not up to Thursday afternoon. It would be impossible to deal with amendments handed in that hour.
We shall have to think over them before to-morrow. When discussing the sections, the President suggested that we should leave over certain details until the next stage. We need not call the next stage by any name in particular— I do not know what stage it will be——
It is very essential we should know where we are.
The Minister never knows where he is. The President suggested that we should discuss these details on the next stage. If there are no amendments down dealing with them, we cannot discuss them.
You can have amendments for Report Stage.
In the procedure now outlined or one of the alternatives outlined, by the President, will that be possible?
Would you, A Chinn Comhairle, translate all that for us?
Has Deputy O'Sullivan not made himself clear.
I want to know what procedure the President proposes to follow.