I move:
That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the law relating to Companies and to provide for related matters.
Companies (Amendment) Bill, 1999: First Stage.
Is the Bill opposed?
No.
The motion for leave to introduce is agreed. Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.
Unless the Government decides otherwise.
Deputy Rabbitte should, therefore, move that Second Stage be taken in Private Members' time.
That was the purpose of my trying to get information from the Government previously. If the Government wishes, it can be taken in Government time next week. Before I formally move, having regard to the fact that the Tánaiste thinks this major defect is preventing her passing on critical information to the Moriarty tribunal, is the Government prepared to put through this Bill in two hours next week?
It has to be moved first in Private Member's time. It is then a matter—
Not necessarily.
That is the point at issue. It does not have to be if the Government agrees that it should be taken in Government time.
In the normal course of events, this would be taken in Private Members' time. For the Deputy's information, there is a High Court case next week on this issue, which he should know about.
Is the Deputy moving that the Bill be taken in Private Members' time?
The court case has absolutely nothing to do with the designation of the tribunal as a competent authority—
That is the Deputy's opinion.
We cannot discuss the matter on the Order of Business. Is the Deputy moving that the Bill be taken in Private Members' time?
I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."
Question put and agreed to.