It is proposed to take business as on the Order Paper, in the following order: Nos. 2, 6, 8 (Votes 65 and 66); there is a Supplementary Estimate in No. 9, Vote 65, which will probably be taken with the main Estimate; then No. 9 (Votes 50 and 59); then No. 8 (Votes 5, 6, 7, 13, 18, 24, 72, 73 and 14); then Nos. 10 and 11; then No. 8 (Vote 3); and, when all the Estimates are concluded, the business relating to the Appropriation Bill, Nos. 3, 4 and 5.
Order of Business.
Can An Tánaiste say anything about the adjournment for the summer recess?
It is intended to adjourn when the business is concluded. It may be necessary to sit late this evening, in order to do that.
And then adjourn, until when?
The middle of September. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach could discuss with the Whips of the other Parties during the day, as to the exact date. We will be glad to consider any proposition that the Whips have.
When has the motion to sit late to be taken?
Before 7 o'clock.
The middle of September is the middle of the harvest operations.
Say the 25th September. Any man who has not his harvest work done by then will never have it done.
There is a difficulty with regard to that. The Committee and other stages of the Transport Bill have to be dealt with and the Minister is very strongly of the opinion that there would not be time, if the Bill were not discussed early in the autumn, to make all the necessary arrangements to have it brought into operation by January 1st. I would be glad to meet the convenience of the House and I know that the agricultural community would like to have the next meeting late in September, but we have to bear the other thing in mind also.
I take it we would have to reassemble on the 13th, 20th or 27th of September.
The 19th will be a Tuesday.
I am talking in terms of Wednesdays—hopefully.
It was decided to sit on Tuesdays.
Arrangements can be made during the day.
Why not October?
Make it the 26th September. Deputy Hughes wants October. I am trying to go between the two.
I think it is unfair to expect farmers to turn up in September.
It may be possible to meet for a week or two and then adjourn again. That can be discussed during the day.