It is proposed to take business in the following order Nos. 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16. If not already reached it is proposed to interrupt business at 6 p.m. to take Nos. 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16. Private Members' business will be taken at 9 o'clock.
Returns to Writs. - Order of Business.
If all other business finishes before 9 o'clock, do we revert to the Apprenticeship Bill if it is not finished at 6?
If we go as fast as that, I think we shall give you half an hour off.
When does the Taoiseach propose to take No. 21?
It is proposed to take the Second Reading next week. I should imagine it is a Bill on which the House will have no difficulty in regard to the Second Reading, and the Committee Stage, which is the important stage, will be taken the following week.
Would the Taoiseach say whether there is any Constitutional provision that requires this Bill to be law by any particular date and, if so, what date?
The 26th November. At least the Constitutional requirement would be to secure the passage of the Bill by the 26th November. I think that is possible but it is a very theoretical point. If the House wanted to spend more time over the Bill than would be available to enable it to be enacted by that date, I would not urge that it should be enacted by then.
Does the 26th November apply to the Oireachtas or the Dáil?
The Oireachtas.
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
There is no penalty. As the Deputy will appreciate, the changes contemplated by this Bill will become effective only on the occasion of the next general election and the point is quite theoretical.
The Taoiseach will recollect that when the Minister sought leave to introduce the Bill, I asked him if he would circulate with the Bill a map showing the proposed new constituencies and the Taoiseach intervened to say he would consider the matter.
I gather the map is being prepared and will be available.
Before the Second Reading?
I should think so.
It will not be circulated.
Where will it be available?
We shall put it up in the approaches to the Chamber.
Either there or wherever it is convenient.
In some public place.
On the Order of Business, would the Taoiseach consider, if possible before the Second Stage, circulating an explanatory memorandum with No. 17, the Petroleum and other Minerals Development Bill, 1959? It is a somewhat technical Bill and, while a good deal has been culled from legislation elsewhere, it is usual in Bills of this sort to have an explanatory memorandum.
I shall discuss that with the Minister.
As an alternative, I would suggest that the Minister should make a Second Reading speech in explanation and that the debate be adjourned immediately after that speech. We could then read the speech.
I shall consider which is the more practical.