It is proposed to take business as set out on the Order Paper in the following order: No. 8— Votes 8, 9, 10, 49, 50 and 51. It is proposed to interrupt business at 7.30 p.m. to take No.9, and when completed to resume the order. I should inform the Dáil regarding the arrangements for meeting next week, that I have received a request from the principal Opposition Party that the Dáil should not meet on Tuesday. Since I am always anxious to facilitate them the Dáil will not meet on Tuesday. Thursday is a Church holiday when the Dáil would not ordinarily meet. I would request the Fine Gael Party when they are arranging their Árd Fheis in future, to pick a week in which there is not a Church holiday. Therefore, the Dáil will meet on Wednesday next only. It seems to be agreed that it would be more convenient to meet at 10.30 a.m. It is proposed to meet from 10.30 a.m. until 7.30 p.m., which will give Deputies from the country an opportunity to get home in time for the Church holiday the next day.
Order of Business.
We appreciate that our request is being met. We acknowledge the courtesy of the Government in meeting the situation and accordingly a proposal that the Dáil should meet from 10.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday next is quite acceptable to us.
Is there such urgency about No.9 that it has to be taken this evening? Could it not be taken tomorrow morning?
We propose to order the Town Planning Bill for tomorrow.
Are there any reasons why we should not continue with Estimates this evening and leave over the Superannuation and Pensions Bill?
There are some reasons.
It has been on the Order Paper for two months now.
We have arranged the business and Ministers have arranged their activities on that basis.
Must it be taken to-day?
It is a Second Reading stage.
That is the important point.
I would not agree that that is the important stage of that Bill.
We do not know who is Taoiseach over there now.
Is the attitude of the Labour Party that they do not want this Bill?
It is a week since the Minister had a row.
I understand the business has been arranged between the Whips.
No.
No.
If any such arrangement was made, I stand over it without qualification. If there is a problem for the members of the Labour Party, would it disrupt the Government's arrangements if the Superannuation and Pensions Bill were taken first thing tomorrow?
It would. Certain arrangements have been made. This is the Second Reading of a Bill which is fundamentally a Committee Stage Bill.
We have to hear the Bill.
Will the Minister for Finance take the Bill?
Yes.
He is not free in the morning?