Business will be taken as on the Order Paper, Nos. 3 to 13 inclusive, No. 2 to be taken in its appropriate place.
Order of Business.
Can the Tánaiste indicate the legislative programme between now and Christmas? Is it intended to sit next week and the following weeks up to Christmas, or will this be the last sitting before Christmas?
If to-morrow's business is concluded, it is proposed to adjourn until 11th December.
I understand that the Army Estimate is not being taken after No. 3.
It will be taken to-morrow.
It is being introduced to-day but will not be taken till to-morrow.
Mr. Brennan
With regard to No. 13—the Local Government Bill— the last time this matter was before the House, I think there was an understanding that, during the present emergency, the Bill would not be taken, or, at least, it was not the intention of the Government to put it into operation during the present crisis. Will the Minister inform us whether he has altered his mind in that respect and whether it is his intention to put the Bill through and put it into operation in the present circumstances?
On this Bill depends the County Management Bill and the Public Assistance Bill. Until we get this Bill through, we cannot get the others into operation, but whether the County Management Bill would be put into operation, without local government elections being held, is another matter. I think it would be more desirable if we could have an election before putting it into operation, but, in the present emergency, that may mean a very long time. Deputies are conversant with the reasons for our agreement to postpone the local elections this year. I am taking only the Second Stage of this Bill before Christmas and it is on the Committee Stage that I anticipate the main discussion will take place. I am not in a position at the moment to say when the Bill, if it is passed into law, will be put into operation. That is a matter to be decided afterwards.
The Minister is not taking the Committee Stage until after Christmas?
I am not.
Mr. Brennan
Surely the Minister realises that, in present circumstances, it is very difficult to detach one's mind from the existing position and to deal with a Bill of this kind which is going to regulate the permanent structure of local government in this country. If the Minister is not going to operate it, he ought not to ask the House to consider it. If he feels he ought to operate the County Management Bill, we know where we are, but I submit that unless he intends to operate the Bill, he ought to wait for some opportune time when people can apply their minds to legislation dealing with the permanent structure of local government in the country.
I understand that when this Bill was last before the House, it was decided that it was not really a controversial Bill, but that, in the peculiar circumstances obtaining at the time, and perhaps now, Deputies were not able to concentrate on the measure. I think that was the Deputy's case at the time. So far as the Second Reading of the Bill is concerned, I think there is not much difficulty about it. There is nothing, so far as Parties are concerned, that can give rise to controversy.
Mr. Brennan
There might be.
A big part of the Bill is already in different statutes and there may be a few questions of some importance arising in relation, perhaps, to the tenure and position of servants of local bodies; but if it is not possible to hold local elections next year, or if we anticipate that such a position will arise, it is the intention to put the County Management Bill, this Local Government Bill and the Public Assistance Bill into operation.
Will Public Business be interrupted at 9 o'clock?
No.
Will Private Members' time be given to-morrow?
Yes.
On a point of order, what question is to be taken on the adjournment?
I shall notify Deputies in due course. It seems to me that the question to be taken will probably be that raised by Deputy Alfred Byrne.
Is a Deputy entitled to make a submission as to the question to be taken?
The Deputy may see me later, if he wishes.