The only remaining business is the appointment of the Committee on Standing Orders. Probably the Seanad will agree that they should re-appoint the former Committee, as speaking for them, except for the Chairman, I can say they were very attentive to their work and did it exceedingly well. There are some important matters still remaining to be dealt with, so that I think it would be better to leave them in the hands of those who were entrusted with the task up to the present.
COMMITTEE ON STANDING ORDERS.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I beg to move the reappointment of the Standing Orders Committee.
I beg to second.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
The Committee consists of the Cathaoirleach, an Leas-Chathaoirleach; Senators Jameson, O'Farrell, Kenny and Sir John Keane.
Before you leave this question I wish to raise a matter that I have already raised several times. We are completely in the dark at the present time, so far as Standing Orders are concerned, of the prescribed formulas that should be complied with for Private Bill legislation. It is a very important matter, and if any Private Bills were proposed to-day no one knows the procedure that would have to be gone through. It is pretty near the time when Private Bill legislation is usually introduced, so that I think it would be very desirable that attention should be paid to the matter. Of course it can only be done in combination with the Committee that deals with the matter in the Dáil. It is essential that the Standing Orders there and in the Seanad should be the same.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
That matter was taken in hands and was completed in the previous Session of the Dáil and the Seanad. There was a small Joint Committee, and it was agreed by this Committee that Standing Orders should be drawn up under the supervision and advice of Counsel. That was done, and the Standing Orders were approved of by the Committee. I think nothing but the dissolution prevented them from being given effect to. Everything is ready, and I do not think there will be any delay in having the Standing Orders brought into shape, printed and published.
You realise the importance of having them. I was not aware they were available.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I do not think they were available as they had not been approved of by either the Dáil or the Seanad, but they got so far as to be in print. There is nothing to prevent them being put into force the moment they are sanctioned by both Houses.
It would be extremely desirable, in my opinion, to urge the desirability of having them approved of as soon as possible.
I think the position is that the Standing Orders have not actually been approved of by the Joint Committee yet. They are complete, and they were to be the next business for consideration by the Standing Orders Committee. I am informed that to-day or to-morrow the Dáil will have before it the appointment of this Committee, and that it will be possible to submit the Orders, which are now in draft form, to the Joint Committee. No doubt the report can then come on at an early date.
Motion put and agreed to.