Business will be taken in the following order as set out in the Order Paper: Nos. 4, 6 and 8. It is proposed that Government Business be not interrupted to take Private Deputies' Business.
Order of Business.
Will the Tánaiste state now (1) when it is proposed to adjourn for the Easter Recess, (2) when it is expected that we shall resume, and (3) if the debate on the Budget will be carried through to-morrow and up to 2 o'clock on Friday?
It is necessary that the Second Reading of the Social Welfare Bill be disposed of before the Adjournment. If the Second Reading of the Social Welfare Bill should be disposed of this afternoon the Dáil will adjourn on Friday until the 22nd April. If the Second Reading is not disposed of by Friday it may be necessary to meet next week.
There was a most specific agreement that the hours for sitting for last week and this week were to be as on the Order Paper and that the whole of to-morrow's and the whole of Friday's sitting time would be available for the discussion of the Budget.
I have not said anything to contradict that.
You have.
Order !
The Tánaiste did not reply to the third part of my question. I asked him if it is intended that the Budget will be debated on to-morrow and on Friday, and up to what time on Friday?
Up to the normal time on Friday. I mentioned that it is necessary to have the Second Reading of the Social Welfare Bill before the Easter Recess. It may be completed this evening. If not, it will be a matter for agreement whether we shall meet later on Friday or reassemble on Tuesday next for that purpose.
I would press against the finishing of the Second Reading of the Social Welfare Bill until the discussion of the general resolution on the Budget has concluded. I object to squeezing a sitting of this House into Holy Week. This House has had a previous experience of meeting, in rushed circumstances for Government purposes, in Holy Week and it was not a very happy experience. I ask the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach why the Second Reading of the Social Welfare Bill should be rushed through unnecessarily prior to the discussion on the general resolution of the Budget—and there is no prospect of finishing that discussion before Easter.
It is intended that the benefits under the Social Welfare Bill will be available to the people of this country from the 1st July. The Government wants to have the Social Welfare Bill in operation by the 1st July and will not have that prevented by a reluctance on the part of Deputies to meet next week, if necessary.
I want to get one point cleared up. Should there not be sufficient time on Thursday and Friday, to conclude the debate on the Budget, I assume it will be carried over to the 22nd April.
Yes.