When is it proposed to take Second Stage of this Bill?
Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 1983: Order for Second Stage.
Bill entitled an Act to confer on certain persons certain rights to vote and for that purpose to amend section 5 of the Electoral Act, 1963.
I move that Second Stage be taken on Tuesday, 31 May, subject to agreement between the Whips.
As this is the first electoral Bill introduced since the debate took place here on the working party on the voters' register, could I ask the Minister whether the views expressed by the House on that occasion will be given effect in legislation to be contained in this Electoral (Amendment) Bill? The terms of the Bill——
That would be a matter for Second Stage of the Bill.
The report as published contained a number of provisions regarding voting and changes in the voters' register. When the legislation is being introduced, will these matters be provided for?
The Deputy will have every opportunity of raising the subject at length on Second Stage.
I was requesting that information from the Minister who is responsible, rather than from the Chair.
Time has not permitted giving effect to the recommendations of the report on the register of electors. The Deputy will understand that the Bill, which was in fact circulated, has been under consideration for a considerable period of time. It is important that the Bill be brought before the House and be dealt with. I did say during discussions on the report——
The Minister cannot have a debate.
I am just clarifying the point. We will be bringing the recommendations before the House at an early stage.
This concerns nothing contentious, I assure the Chair. The Minister will appreciate that there are constitutional questions involved in this legislation. Would he consider issuing an explanatory memorandum with this legislation? It would be customary in the case of legislation which has important constitutional implications, as this has. The Minister will appreciate that the question of whether or not this requires a constitutional amendment has been agitating people's minds for some time.
It is well settled that the House cannot discuss the merits of the Bill.
I am not asking for——
I would remind the Leader of the Opposition that this is purely on the Order of Business to fix the date of Second Reading.
Before I and my colleagues are in a position to look at the legislation on Second Stage, we would like to know this Government's views of the constitutional position regarding this legislation.
The Deputy cannot have that discussed.
I am only asking would the Minister consider sending out an explanatory memorandum, as is customary with legislation of this sort.
I would facilitate the Leader of the Opposition if he deems an explanatory memorandum to be necessary. I am not sure, in fact, that an explanatory memorandum will deal with any constitutional doubts relating to the legislation. Certainly, an explanatory memorandum can be provided before Second Stage.
Question put and agreed to.