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Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Jul 1924

Vol. 3 No. 16

ACCOMMODATION AT DUN LAOGHAIRE PIER. - REPORT OF COMMITTEE.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

This is a matter the Seanad may recollect was referred to a Committee by a Resolution moved in this House by Senator the Earl of Mayo. Senator Bagwell and, I think, Senator Sir Thomas Esmonde, consented to act with him on a Committee, to go into the matter. They have made their Report, and you have seen it. I do not think it would be convenient for us to discuss it to-day in the absence of the Senator who originally moved in the matter, and also in the absence of Senators Sir Thomas Esmonde and Bagwell. We would have a difficulty, I think, in discussing it to-day. We shall have to meet again before we adjourn, and probably the Seanad would prefer to let this matter simply stand over till the next sitting of the Seanad.

Agreed—consideration postponed.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

Before we adjourn, I wish to mention I have been informed by the President that he expects to get the Appropriation Bill passed in the Dáil to-morrow, and he is then moving the adjournment of the Dáil until the 1st August, when it is supposed, and hoped, that all the Bills will have been dealt with by us, and in so far as they have to be again considered by the Dáil, they can be considered on that date. That raises the question as to what date the Seanad would like to fix for the discussion of the Appropriation Bill, which is practically all the business that will be left to us, because in regard to the other Bills those of them that were in any way contentious are not to be sent up to us until October. I refer to the Local Government Bill, the Intoxicating Liquor Bill, the Dairy Produce Bill, and the Live Stock Breeding Bill. There are two other Bills, the State Harbours Bill and the Drainage Maintenance Bill, which will pass through the Dáil to-day, and then there is one other Bill, the State Lands Bill, which it is hoped will pass through the Dáil to-morrow. I want the views of Senators as to what date they would like to be fixed for the discussion by this House of the Appropriation Bill. It will be very inconvenient for the President, who is very anxious to be here when the Bill is being discussed, if this is not taken before Wednesday next. It would be open to the House, if they are prepared to do it, to sit on Saturday next for the purpose of discussing this Appropriation Bill, or Monday, or Tuesday, Saturday or Monday preferably for the convenience of the President.

I propose that we sit at 11 o'clock on Saturday.

Monday, perhaps, would be better. Some Senators who are interested in this matter are not here. Personally I do not mind.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

What I have in mind is, if we fix Saturday now we can give all Senators notification of that to-night by wire. If we fix Monday they might have to come up on Saturday, and some of them, I think, will probably have no alternative between Saturday and Tuesday.

I do not press the point. I simply mentioned it.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

I may mention that there does not seem to be that burning anxiety to discuss this Bill that I was led to believe did exist in the breasts of Senators, because I suggested asking them if they would send in a memorandum pointing out the various Sub-heads under which they wished to raise discussions on these Estimates in the opportunity afforded them by the Appropriation Bill. I understand only two communications have been received, so that I think probably if there is no objection in any quarter of the House we will arrange the meeting of the Seanad now.

This is Thursday, and any of our country members who are not here cannot possibly hear anything about the matter before Saturday.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

If the House would fix Saturday I would direct wires to be sent to all the Senators.

As to the question of a meeting on Saturday, nobody will have expected it, and one can hardly expect Senators to change their plans so suddenly.

Many members have regarded Wednesday as the day for starting our week. That is, more or less, a fixed day, and Senators make arrangements to be elsewhere during the earlier part of the week to do some of their business.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

We make no change by adjourning now until Saturday. It is part of our present week's sittings. It would be a little out of our usual course to sit on Monday, but when you are approaching the end of a session, as you are doing here, formal and regular procedure has to be modified to meet the situation.

I propose formally that we meet on Saturday at 11 o'clock.

I second that.

I propose that we meet on Monday at 3 o'clock.

I second.

On a show of hands it was decided to meet at 3 o'clock on Monday.

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