Next Stage?
Electoral Bill, 1962—First Stage.
Leave granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend and extend the Electoral Acts, 1923 to 1961, the Presidential Elections Acts, 1937 to 1960, the Referendum Acts, 1942 to 1960, the Prevention of Electoral Abuses Act, 1923, and the Acts relating to local elections and to provide for related matters.—(Minister for Local Government).
22nd January.
No, I am afraid——
It may be ordered for that date.
Could we have a little conformity among the members of the Government? The Taoiseach says 22nd January. The Minister is indicating it will not be taken on 22nd January.
It will be ordered.
When shall we see it?
Early in the next session.
Before we reassemble?
It may not be available but the Deputy will have ample opportunity of studying it.
There are some rules of procedure. You cannot order a Bill for 22nd January if the responsible Minister says he will not circulate it before that. I refuse to consent to the ordering of a Bill for consideration on 22nd January when the Minister responsible says he is not in a position to circulate it before then.
When the Deputy was in the Government, he introduced a Bill which in fact was never circulated at all. Until a Bill has been drafted, nobody can say exactly when it will be available.
One thing is quite certain, that we will not consent to the ordering of a Bill for the 22nd January when the responsible Minister says that it will not be circulated before that.
I said that I could not promise an exact date on which it would be circulated.
I understood you to say that you would not be in a position to circulate it for 22nd of January.
No. I said that I would not be in a position to promise definitely when it would be circulated before 22nd January.
If it will solve this, we will order it for 29th January.
Perhaps that would be the more becoming procedure.
Second Stage ordered for Tuesday, 29th January, 1963.