The Dáil stands adjourned until next Tuesday.
In Committee on Finance. - The Adjournment.
I understand that it has been arranged that the Dáil should not meet until next Wednesday.
I do not think it has been arranged.
When is it proposed the Dáil should meet?
On Tuesday next.
I have made representations that Tuesday would not suit me so far as this Bill is concerned. I have convenienced the Government in every respect for the last two or three years, and I should imagine that they would extend the same courtesy to us. That is all I have to say.
I understood from the Parliamentary Secretary, Deputy Smith, that Deputy Norton had asked that we should not meet on Tuesday as the Labour Party had some business that would make it difficult for them to be here on Tuesday. I said that that would be all right, but I understand that when the Parliamentary Secretary asked the Chief Opposition whether they would agree to that, he was told that they would not.
No. That is a bit mixed up.
I think Deputy Norton will bear me out.
Yes. We asked that the House should not meet on Tuesday as there was a Labour Conference which had been called already, on the assumption that the House would not sit on Tuesday.
I was told by the Parliamentary Secretary, and Deputy Norton was also told, that Deputy Cosgrave would not agree.
The Parliamentary Secretary definitely told me that the Fine Gael Party would not agree not to sit on Tuesday.
It is the first I heard of it.
Is the Minister prepared to accept the desire of the House to sit on Wednesday, or what is the position?
All I know is that I was told earlier that the Chief Opposition would not agree.
I am perfectly prepared to have the House meet on Wednesday.
Let us clear the matter up now as to whether we are to meet on Tuesday or Wednesday.
If the House desires, I agree to meet on Wednesday.
I understood that the suggestion to meet on Tuesday came from the chief Opposition.
I followed the usual procedure. At any time that I have been in charge of the business of the House I usually act in consultation with the Parliamentary Secretary, and I do not think I have ever failed to convenience the Opposition, and Deputy Cosgrave more than anybody in the House.
I have never asked any concession of any kind, either from the Minister or anybody else.
I did not say "concession"; I said "convenience". The Deputy knows that he asked that this Bill should be put back a week.
Yes, but that is a matter of public business, not a matter of my private convenience.
If the Deputy is asking that we should not meet next Tuesday, is not that a matter of public business?
It is not.
It is for Deputy Cosgrave's convenience that we are dropping Tuesday.
No; it is for Deputy Norton's convenience.
Well, I am quite agreeable for the next meeting to take place on Wednesday.
The Dáil adjourned at 9.35 p.m., until 3 p.m., Wednesday, 29th April.