Dáil Éireann debate -
Friday, 24 Jul 1953

Vol. 141 No. 4

Order of Business.

An Tánaiste

It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 6, 9, 5, 8, 3, 4, 11 and 10, and in No. 10 Vote 27. It is proposed that public business be not interrupted for the taking of Private Deputies' business.

To give the Seanad a reasonable opportunity of considering the Central Fund Bill next week, I think it is necessary to dispose of the Vote on Account and the Central Fund Bill to-day. I shall move that the Dáil will sit late, if necessary, to dispose of that business, and that business only. If the Vote on Account and the Central Fund Bill should be disposed of at 2 p.m., then the Dáil Will adjourn at 2 p.m.

Brendán Mac Fheórais

So that we may sit as long as we like to dispose of the business to-day?

Mr. Briscoe

Until 3 o'clock in the morning.

Mr. Sweetman

Or 4 o'clock in the morning.

An Tánaiste

Members of the House will appreciate that the Seanad is entitled to receive the Central Fund Bill next week. If it is necessary to name a time, the intention would be that the Dáil would adjourn when the Vote on Account and the Central Fund Bill have been disposed of, and not to take the remaining business.

Brendán Mac Fheórais

That will take some time.

Minister for Local Government (Mr. Smith)

Do not be too brave.

Brendán Mac Fheórais

Do not be so impudent.

Mr. Sweetman

Could the Tánaiste give us any indication of the business for next week?

An Tánaiste

On Tuesday it is proposed to take the remaining stages of the Army Pensions Bill, the Estimate for the Department of Agriculture and the Report Stage of the Health Bill.

Mr. Sweetman

Could the Tánaiste give us a more accurate picture of the business which the Government wish to have disposed of before the recess?

An Tánaiste

I think I could do that some time this afternoon.

Mr. Sweetman

We are only getting a revised picture of it now.

An Tánaiste

I hope to let the Deputy know some time this afternoon.

Captain Cowan

What about the Workmen's Compensation (Amendment) Bill and the Courts of Justice Bill?

An Tánaiste

The Workmen's Compensation (Amendment) Bill which I gather is non-contentious is one that we would like to have passed. It is not possible to say whether there will be any long delay in regard to the enactment of the Courts of Justice Bill. I think that the whole programme might perhaps be usefully discussed by the Whips.

Mr. S. Collins

I take it that the intention is to take all stages of the Army Pensions Bill?

An Tánaiste

Yes.

Captain Cowan

Could there be some arrangement in regard to the time at which the Minister for Finance would be allowed in to conclude on the Vote on Account? Personally I feel that he will probably be in at an early stage this morning, but it would be much better if there could be some reasonable agreement in regard to a matter of that kind.