It is proposed to take business in the following order:— Nos. 1, 8, 3, 9 and 10 and, in No. 10, Votes 43 and 44, and then No. 11.
Order of Business.
Would the Minister for Social Welfare agree that, if there is any danger of No. 13 being reached this week, it might be left over until next week?
The position is that, when the House ordered this Bill for tomorrow, I pointed out that we were rather anxious to get it through. It was agreed, I think, that the Committee Stage would be taken on the 23rd and, if necessary, in order to allow of discussion on any amendment that might be put down, the Bill could be recommitted for that purpose. The actual position is that, if the Bill does not become law before the Summer Recess, the new contributory pension scheme could not come into operation until next April. For that reason, it is important that the Bill should become law this session. I would propose taking the Committee Stage tomorrow subject to the condition that, if any further amendments are put down, I shall move to recommit the Bill on the Report Stage for the purpose of having those amendments discussed.
If the Minister had an assurance that all stages would be passed next week, would that not meet the position?
Yes.
Perhaps we could have some discussion with a view to getting the Bill out of the House next week and facilitate its passage into law.
I hope that does not mean that I have to accept the views of the Opposition in order that the Bill may become law.
I understood last week that the proposal adumbrated by the Minister was tacitly agreed in principle, if not in detail. If, however, the view is pressed upon the Government that an alternative arrangement would be more convenient, I think that could be considered by the Whips.
I am quite prepared.
The people in Kilkenny thought they would be drawing that pension at the end of the month.