When is it proposed to take the Second Stage?
Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) Bill, 1945—First Stage.
Leave granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to continue, amend and extend the Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) Acts, 1923 to 1944.—(Minister for Defence).
To-morrow, if the House agrees.
What about leaving it until next week?
As the Deputy knows, the Bill is a very urgent one and it must be law by the end of the month. It is a very simple, non-controversial Bill. I should like to get all the stages to-morrow, if the House is willing.
I would have thought that the Minister would have taken advantage of the introduction of this Bill to make a statement to the House as to what his proposals are with regard to the Army for the coming year. There is quite a number of men in the Army for the emergency period and there is a number of matters which they would wish to hear about. There may be some points with regard to the Army which the House would like to discuss on the Second Stage of this measure.
We are taking advantage of the opportunity provided by the Bill to make provision in it for some proposals which will affect the future of the Army. They are simple proposals which merely make it possible for members of the temporary forces to become members of the permanent forces. The Deputy knows the urgency of the Bill. I am not trying to rush the House, but the Bill is a simple Bill and non-controversial, so far as I can see.
What the Minister says makes it all the more reasonable that we should be allowed to see the Bill before we take the Second Reading.
It is available at the moment.
It should be time enough next week. We have plenty of business this week.
We can take it on Friday, if the Deputy wishes to see the Bill.
I object to being asked to give the Bill a First Reading to-day and to take the Second Reading the day after to-morrow. Deputies would be much more satisfied by having the Bill in their hands so that they might read it and then discuss it next week.
The Deputy knows that next week will be just as busy as this week, and perhaps busier. I understand that the Vote on Account is to be taken next week. The Bill, as I have said, is a simple type of Bill. It is an urgent Bill because it will have to go to the Seanad and must be law by the end of the month.
I am very anxious to see this Bill before we discuss it on Second Reading.
Very good; we can take it on Friday.
I would resist the House making an Order that the Second Reading be taken on Friday. I submit it should be taken next week.
Is there more in this Bill than is in the usual Army Bill?
If Deputy Mulcahy wishes to become an obstructionist, I cannot prevent him, but we will take it on Tuesday.
I object to being called an obstructionist because, when the annual Army Bill is introduced in the curious circumstances of the times, we ask to be allowed to see it before we take up the Second Reading.
The Bill is available at the moment.
I am addressing you, Sir, and I say that I object to the House being asked to take this Bill this week.
Tuesday then ?
I disagree with Tuesday. This is the first time we have heard of a meeting on Tuesday. The arrangement has been made that the House will sit on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at present and I have heard nothing about the House changing its attitude in that connection.
The motion is:—
That the Second Reading be taken next Tuesday.
Put it down provisionally for Tuesday.
The implication is that the House will be asked to sit on Tuesday. We have heard nothing about that up to now.
We can discuss that matter later.
Very good; put it down for Tuesday, without prejudice.
Second Stage ordered for Tuesday, 13th March.