Is the Dáil meeting next week?
Sittings of Dáil.
Yes, on Monday and Tuesday.
The suggestion that the Dáil should meet on Monday and Tuesday has been considered by the Party on this side of the House. We do not think it is a good arrangement. A difficulty arises from the fact that Wednesday is a Church holyday, and that the Dáil will not meet on that day. We were asked to consider the alternative of meeting on Monday and Tuesday rather than on Thursday and Friday. The bulk of opinion on this side is in favour of meeting on Thursday and Friday rather than on Monday and Tuesday. The reasons for that choice are not merely the inconvenience to country Deputies of attending on Monday, but also the fact that the county councils are due, I understand, to hold their annual meetings on Monday or Tuesday of next week. The Deputies who are members of the county councils would wish to be present at these annual meetings which are the most important of the year and, consequently, would feel obliged to attend them rather than attend the Dáil. In the circumstances, it is considered preferable that the Dáil should meet on Thursday and Friday rather than on Monday and Tuesday.
If we can get reasonable accommodation on that matter, we will accept the principle of sitting on Thursday and Friday instead of on Monday and Tuesday, that is, subject to some agreement being reached with regard to the sitting hours on Thursday and Friday.
The same number of hours will be available.
Perhaps the Whips could arrange about the hours. We accept the principle of Thursday and Friday, the House to sit on Thursday from 3 o'clock until midnight. The hours for Friday are a matter than can be discussed.
Very well.
Agreed that the Dáil sit on Thursday, 30th June, and Friday, 1st July, 1949.