It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1 and 2. If not already reached, it is proposed to interrupt business at 6 p.m. to take No. 2 and, when completed, to resume the order.
Order of Business.
Would the Tánaiste indicate when the Government propose to give time for the Law Reform Bill?
The Government will give official time for the Second Reading of the Bill during this session and will be prepared to support a Second Reading of the Bill on the understanding that the Committee Stage will be taken after the Adjournment, during which consideration may possibly have to be given to some amendments.
Could the Tánaiste indicate in what period of the session or when the session will end?
Time will be given in this session for the Second Reading and perhaps the Whips could get together with a view to fixing the time.
When the Minister says this session, he means before the Adjournment?
Yes, to get the Second Reading now and let the Committee Stage come on in the autumn.
There are three Bills in the list that the Tánaiste gave of the business that had to be concluded before the House rose that we have not yet seen—the Agricultural Produce (Cereals) (Amendment) Bill, the Housing (Amendment) Bill, the Solicitors (Amendment) Bill. The Tánaiste also informed us that there may be one or two motions. Can we be told when these Bills and motions will be made available?
I understand it is hoped that the Housing (Amendment) Bill will be available next week, although I suppose that is subject to the draft from the Parliamentary Drafting Office being satisfactory in every respect. The Agricultural Produce (Cereals) (Amendment) Bill will be introduced to-morrow and should be available towards the end of next week. The Solicitors (Amendment) Bill is perhaps more doubtful because it is rather involved and I could not say how long the drafting will take. I imagine that there will be a general desire to take it this session.
Yes, in view of the Supreme Court decision, there must be.
It is in process of being drafted.
Can the Tánaiste say whether there are motions to be taken? I think he indicated that there are.
There is one, I think. I do not know whether it is important or not.
Is the delay in taking the Housing Bill due to the fact that you cannot expect anything to come of it for six or seven years, as the Minister said?
No; that is not what he said. What he said was that the full completion of schemes for building flats in all the derelict sites in the city might not be completed for six or seven years.
This, I believe, is the 24th June. If the Tánaiste wants the Solicitors Bill enacted this session, and it is yet in the process of drafting, then the prospects of getting it done, unless we are going to sit until August, do not appear good.
We are fully aware of that and we are most anxious to get it before the House.