I move that the Second Stage be ordered for Thursday, 8 November 1979.
Ombudsman (No. 2) Bill, 1979: Order for Second Stage.
Bill entitled an Act to provide for the appointment and functions of an ombudsman, and for purposes connected therewith.
I welcome the introduction of this Bill and I am glad that our Bill has extracted this Bill finally from the Government. I urge that consideration be given in the drafting of the Bill to one suggestion made by us arising from the O Briain Report, that is, that the ombudsman's office might have some function in regard to spot checks or interrogation of prisoners so as to protect the reputation of the Garda and also of course to protect prisoners against the possibility of any wrong method being used.
What is the position when there are on the Order Paper simultaneously two Bills dealing with the same subject? Are they taken jointly?
The Chair can assume reasonably that the other one will not be moved, but that is only an assumption.
Question put and agreed to.