The Report of the Committee on the Standing Orders was taken at the meeting of the Seanad yesterday and its adoption was moved by Senator McPartlin, and seconded by Senator Farren, but as there was not a quorum of the Seanad present when I was about to put the motion, the debate had to be adjourned until to-day, and we now resume discussion on the Report. The motion is that the Report of the Committee on Standing Orders be adopted, with the following addition, which has been been moved by Senator McPartlin:—"in line 9 of paragraph 2 of Standing Order No. 70 to insert after the word "stage" the following:—"but save in the case of a certified Money Bill, not before the expiration of three clear days after the circulation of the Bill as passed by the Dáil."
I ought to say that the Report of the Standing Orders Committee was, in substance, adopted by the Seanad, but Standing Order No. 56 was referred back to the Committee to have some verbal alterations made. The Report now before the Seanad is the Report making the alterations that were suggested, and also suggesting some slight verbal alterations for the purpose of clarity in two other Orders.
It has been proposed that the report should be adopted with this amendment I think the effect of the amendment proposed by Senator McPartlin would be to make it impossible for the Cathaoirleach—unless a special motion to take it were passed—to put down any Bill, except a Money Bill, until three days after it had been sent out to the members of the Seanad in its final form as passed by the Dáil.