I move:
That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Act, 1926.
and request that the Bill be taken in Private Members' time this evening.
Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) (Amendment) Bill, 1989: First Stage.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
Question put and agreed to.
While I am anxious to facilitate Deputy Birmingham, as Education spokesperson in moving his Bill, I want to express my concern at the fact that what the House has been asked to do is to agree——
A Cheann Comhairle, are we still on the Order of Business?
Deputy Higgins may speak.
My point is that we are asked, in the proposed Order of Business, to agree the First Reading of a Bill which I have not had sight of, which has not been printed.
The House has just agreed to the matter, Deputy.
No, I thought you asked, a Cheann Comhairle, if the matter was agreed.
I put the question and there was no dissent.
I stood up at that point, a Cheann Comhairle, to indicate to you my concern, lest we establish a precedent, that Bills we have not yet seen or which have not been printed can be presented before the Dáil at 4.15 p.m. and discussed at 7 o'clock that evening. It seems to me to be a very unusual and bad precedent to be setting. While I am not anxious to discommode anybody I can think of circumstances in which Bills of another kind could be introduced. Again, while the Bill has not been printed or circulated, what we are asked to do is facilitate its discussion in principle at 7 o'clock this evening.
I understand that the Bill will be circulated immediately.
I still make my point, a Cheann Comhairle.
The Deputy has made his point very eloquently.
(Interruptions.)
I am surprised at the lassitude of people in not defending the position or demanding to see something in print before they discuss it in principle.