Next stage ?
Local Authorities (Cost of Living) (Amendment) Bill, 1945—First Stage.
Leave granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Local Authorities (Cost of Living) Act, 1940— (Minister for Local Government and Public Health).
Tuesday next.
When will the Bill be circulated ?
This evening.
On the question of ordering it for Tuesday, this is the First Reading of a measure which affects local authorities in relation to the cost of living. Deputies are here in Dublin at present, but they will be down the country by the time they receive the Bill, if they do receive it before coming back here. They will have no opportunity of making any inquiries, or having any discussions down the country which will inform the Second Reading discussion on Tuesday.
I do not see the Deputy's difficulty. We are circulating the Bill to-night and Deputies will have it in the morning at latest. It will probably be available in the Bill office this evening, but at any rate Deputies will have it to-morrow morning at latest. Unless Deputies who live outside Dublin propose to refrain from returning to their homes over the week-end, they will have an opportunity of consulting any person interested in the Bill. The other side of the story is that I have been pressed from several quarters of the House to introduce this Bill.
If we can be sure of having it to-night or to-morrow, I withdraw my objection.
Second Stage ordered for Tuesday, 13th March.