(Cavan): I move amendment No. 4:
In page 3, line 38, to delete " `straight vote' system" and substitute "relative majority system by means of the single non-transferable vote".
Referendum (Amendment) Bill, 1968: Committee Stage (Resumed).
SECTION 1.
: This amendment was discussed with amendment No. 3. Is the Deputy pressing the amendment?
(Cavan): Yes.
Amendment put and declared lost.
(Cavan): I move amendment No. 5:
In page 3, line 50, after "purchased" to insert "for sixpence each".
This is an amendment to section 4 of the Bill which says that copies of the Bills may be inspected and purchased at any post office. My amendment simply proposes to add to that section "for sixpence each", making it clear that the Bills may be purchased at any post office for that sum. I understand from the Minister's intervention last evening that he proposes to accept the amendment and therefore I do not wish to say anything further about it beyond that if these words were not written into it, it is possible that a prohibitive sum would be charged.
: As I said, I have no objection to the amendment. The position is that under Rule 4 of the First Schedule to the Referendum Act, 1942, the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs is required to have copies of the Bills, containing the proposals which are the subject of the referenda, made available for inspection and purchase by the public at such post offices throughout the State as shall be agreed on between the Minister and the Minister for Local Government from the third day after the date of the order appointing the polling day until the polling day. The purchase price of either of the Bills is fixed by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs but may not exceed sixpence. I understand that on this occasion, as in 1959, the price per copy will be sixpence. Accordingly, I am prepared the accept the amendment, although again I must say that I see no need whatever for it, since it is already prescribed that the price cannot exceed sixpence.
Amendment agreed to.
Section 1, as amended, agreed to.
Section 2 agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill reported with amendments.
: Report Stage?
: Now.
(Cavan): We are prepared to take the Report Stage now, but I have an amendment on this Stage, and I take it I may move it.
: That is the first I have heard about an amendment.
: The Chair is grateful to Deputy Fitzpatrick for giving notice, and in view of the short time between one Stage and the other, the Chair is agreeable to accept relevant amendments.