I would be anxious if possible that the Second Stage be taken this session and, perhaps, the succeeding Stages. The Whips might be able to arrange a timetable for this to be done.
Private Business. - Auctioneers' and House Agents' Bill, 1973 [Seanad]: Fixing of Date for Second Stage.
This comes as a surprise to us in that we were supplied with a list by the Government Whip yesterday of the items required to be concluded by the end of this session. This was not one of those items. One would have expected notice of the Minister's request.
That is so. I did not realise that the Minister's wish was to have this Bill pass all Stages in both Houses before the end of the session. I am sorry if I have inconvenienced the Opposition in that way and, perhaps, I can speak with Deputy Andrews about it later.
There is no inconvenience except surprise, not knowing what the Government have actually in mind about business. I suggest, in the light of the approach of the Chief Whip of the Government yesterday, that the Whips discuss whether the Second Stage should be taken this session.
Leave it to the Whips but we will not be dictated by any other situation.
Put it down for next week.
We will leave it subject to agreement by the Whips.
I missed the remark by Deputy Andrews. Would he mind repeating it? He made a reference to "being dictated to".
The Parliamentary Secretary should be listening more carefully, but I was not referring to him.
I cannot hear the Deputy.
I will not permit an argument on the matter.