I move that the Second Stage be taken on Wednesday, 24th March, 1976. The Taoiseach would like to take this tomorrow afternoon at about 5.15.
Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Privilege and Procedure) Bill, 1976: Order for Second Stage.
I would like to object to the ordering of the Second Stage of this Bill for tomorrow. The main purpose of the Bill is to ensure that matters raised before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges would have the same privilege as matters raised here in the House. That was the only question I understood that was to arise. I see from the published Bill that a section provides for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to send for papers, persons and things of that nature and in default of the person complying with the request for attendance or to submit the documents to the committee there is a penalty on conviction of £300 and/or six months' imprisonment. That is a principle which ought not be introduced as a general principle in the working of a committee of this nature. It is a matter which will require serious study. We would require some time to consider that position rather than have the Bill rushed through tomorrow.
I am sorry, I did not hear the Leader of the Opposition. He said some kind of——
(Dublin Central): Time.
Perhaps the House will agree to order it subject to agreement which obviously will not be forthcoming, but at least it would give us some certainty in case the Opposition change their minds.
I may say if the Government persist in including this provision in the Bill we will have to oppose it. At least we expect time to consider a serious proposal of this nature.
I do not want to disagree with the Opposition in regard to when this Bill will be taken. I only went around very lately. Deputy Lynch and the House will understand that it was, from the point of view of the Deputy whose character has been called into question and whose actions have been called into question, an urgent matter, to have this thing resolved. The meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges last week was unanimous that the reservation which Deputy Crowley expressed should be rendered groundless by the passage of such a Bill.
It is true that the matter which Deputy Lynch mentioned was not adverted to but the advice which the Government acted on was that in the passage of this Bill it was as well to include this section as well. The merits of the section cannot be debated now. I suggest that the House might agree to take it tomorrow but we will not insist on going on with it tomorrow. I would like to have an opportunity of discussing it with Deputy Lalor.
I am afraid I cannot agree with it going on tomorrow for the reasons I have stated. As the Parliamentary Secretary said, this is not a time for going into the merits of the section to which we object. I thought it necessary to give my immediate reason for objecting to the Bill being taken tomorrow. I believe it is a legitimate reason.
Next Tuesday?
We will consider it next Tuesday.
Second Stage ordered for Tuesday, 30th March, 1976.