Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Oct 1950

Vol. 123 No. 1

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take business as on the Order Paper: Items Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7. Private Deputies' Business will be taken at 9 o'clock. There is one matter to which I should like to refer at this stage. I am told that, at the close of the last session, the time at which the Dáil sat on Thursdays was altered so that the Dáil sat at 10.30 a.m. I suggest that we revert to the old practice now. The altered practice was initiated towards the close of a busy session to facilitate certain Deputies and I think we should revert to the old practice and meet at 3 p.m. on Thursdays. I move accordingly that the Order made be discharged and that the Dáil meet at 3 p.m. on Thursdays.

Agreed.

Mr. Hickey

Is there any difficulty in the way of our meeting at 10.30 a.m. on Thursdays?

An Ceann Comhairle

The House has agreed to meet at 3 p.m.

Mr. Hickey

It is scarcely fair to bring it before us at such short notice.

The Taoiseach

The suggestion is that we revert to the ordinary practice. The alteration of the time of meeting was an unusual circumstance towards the end of the last session and quite a number of Deputies did not like it. The ordinary time of meeting suits most Deputies and I think it better to go back to the old arrangement.

Mr. MacEntee

And suits the administration also.

Mr. Hickey

I can tell the Taoiseach that, so far as I know, every country Deputy would prefer to meet on Thursday morning, rather than have to wait until 3 p.m.

An Ceann Comhairle

When the question was put, those Deputies said nothing.

Captain Cowan

Can Deputies not do very valuable work by going into the library and studying the business to be dealt with here?

Mr. Hickey

Unfortunately, we are not all legal men and are not occupied in the forenoon.

Ordered: That the Dáil meet at 3 p.m. on Thursdays.

Mr. McGrath

Could the Taoiseach indicate when the Social Welfare Bill will be circulated?

The Taoiseach

The Tánaiste will indicate the position in that respect.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. Norton)

The Bill to which the Deputy refers, based on the White Paper, has been drafted and approved by the Government. It has been sent to Departments for their observations on the text. When these have been received and considered, the Bill will be printed and circulated to Deputies.

Mr. McGrath

The Tánaiste is aware that he promised to circulate it during the Recess and so give us time to digest it.

Mr. Norton

My promise about the digestion still stands. I have here the text of the Bill in neostyle and when the Deputy sees it, he will appreciate the difficulties in the preparation of such a drastic, technical and complicated Bill. I wish his digestion well in the matter.

Mr. MacEntee

Do not be humorous.

Mr. Norton

I will present it to the Deputy.

Mr. P.D. Lehane

Is it the intention that the House should sit next week?

The Taoiseach

No, there is a Church Holyday on Wednesday, and I think it better not.

Mr. P.D. Lehane

Is it proposed to meet on Friday of this week?

The Taoiseach

No, to-day and to-morrow, and then to adjourn for a fortnight.