When will the Bill be circulated?
Social Welfare Bill, 1948—First Stage.
Leave granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the following enactments, namely, the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908 to 1938, the National Health Insurance Acts, 1911 to 1947, the Unemployment Insurance Acts, 1920 to 1946, the Insurance Industry Unemployment Insurance Scheme, the Unemployment Assistance Acts, 1933 to 1940, and the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts, 1935 to 1947, and to provide for certain other matters connected with the matters aforesaid.— (Minister for Social Welfare.)
Does the Minister expect to get all stages during the present session?
I propose to set the Bill down for Second Reading this day week, on the assumption that the Bill will be circulated on Thursday evening or Friday. As there is a good deal of Departmental work which must necessarily be done after the Bill has been passed into law, I should be glad of the co-operation of the House in ensuring the passage of the Bill before the Dáil adjourns.
Surely we will get the Bill before Thursday, if it is seriously intended to take it this day week?
I am making the best possible effort to let the House have the Bill as soon as possible and I want the House to co-operate in passing the Bill before the Dáil adjourns.
What delayed it?
Producing a very good scheme.
That may be the Minister's opinion of his own progeny, but let us see it.
Deputy MacEntee's opinion does not count even in his own Party.
Surely his opinion that we should see the Bill before we discuss it should get some consideration?
If the Dáil objects to taking it next week, it can take it the week after, but I want to try to facilitate the House in the matter.
We will be agreeable to take it next week, but we want to see it as soon as possible.
If the Dáil is willing to take it next week, I shall be glad, and, in order to facilitate the House generally, I will give the Bill to the House as soon as I get it from the Parliamentary draftsman. In addition, to make the position easier for the House, I hope to circulate an explanatory paper in connection with it; but if the House does not want to take the Bill next week and if it will annoy Deputy MacEntee to have to consider it next week, I will put it down for Second Reading this day fortnight.
Do I understand the Minister to say that the Bill is not yet out of the hands of the Parliamentary draftsman and that he himself does not know what is in the Bill?
Unlike the Deputy when he was in office, I know all that is in the Bill for which I am responsible.
And it has been white printed already?
No, it has not.
I am telling the Deputy that he will see the Bill and the explanatory paper not later than Friday. If that does not give him sufficient time to take the Second Stage next week, he can take it this day fortnight.
The Minister does not know what is in the Bill. He has not seen even the white print yet.
If there is objection by Deputy MacEntee to taking the Bill this day week——
There is no objection at all.
Second Stage ordered for Tuesday, 27th July.