In regard to other business, I have a list of the Bills before the Dáil. There are two of them which will probably be concluded before the Dail adjourns for Easter. They are two Bills that will probably receive some considerable discussion in this House, because several Senators have intimated to me their desire to speak on them. One of them is the Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Bill, and the other is the Treasonable and Seditious Offences Bill. I only mention these in order that Senators may utilise the opportunity of the Recess to get these Bills. They will be printed after being passed in the other House, so that Senators will have an opportunity of getting them. The reason I make that suggestion is that when the House resumes after Easter and when we have given these Bills a second reading, we may be in a position to proceed to the Committee Stage on the next day. In order to make that possible Senators should get copies of the Bills in advance and send in any amendments they wish as soon as possible. The same remarks will also apply to the Housing Bill, which will be put through the Dáil before the adjournment.
COUNTY BOARDS OF HEALTH ACCOUNTS ORDER, 1924. - BUSINESS OF THE SEANAD.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
Am I in order now in referring to the Housing Bill?
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
It will depend on what you have to say.
I think the Bill contains no provisions that were not contained in the Bill passed through last year. It is necessary for those who intend building houses to have some reasonable assurance that the Bill will go through fairly easily so that they can make their arrangements. For that reason I think it would be desirable, in case it passes through the Dáil before Easter, that we should treat it as an urgent Bill.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
What do you mean by that?
That it should be passed through all its stages.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
That is before the Recess?
Yes.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
That would mean convening the Seanad for next week.
In that case I must take your advice, and wait and see.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
The President did not press it very strongly.
It is pressing nevertheless.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
If it is in force by the 1st May, it will be early enough.
I do not think that would be early enough. The building year commences on the 1st April, and unless the plans and everything are prepared by that time, the work may be held up during the year. If this Bill gets through the Dáil before Easter, as I believe it will, because it is a non-contentious measure, the Seanad should deal with it before the Recess. I would urge that request particularly because of the fact that there are 50 per cent. of the carpenters and joiners unemployed at present. That is a big consideration, and if this Bill gets through it may mean that a big number of them may be employed immediately and that a large number of unskilled labourers will also get work. If this Bill gets through the Dáil before Easter the members of the Seanad living in Dublin and its vicinity, ought to be notified for the purpose of passing it through all its stages. I know the President is anxious that the Bill should get through before Easter.
I would like to support that request so that building operations may begin at once. If the members of the Seanad living in Dublin could come here it would not occupy their time very long.
It would be possible, I think, to get a quorum from the members living in Dublin. If that were done it may mean that we need not meet so soon after Easter.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I have no objection to that course at all. In view of the statement of Senator Farren, I think we should have some consideration for the industrial interests of our own city. If this is the only business to be dealt with at our next sitting, we could meet next week and it would enable us to get a quorum from Senators resident in or near the city. I suggest that the Seanad adjourn until Tuesday.
The Seanad adjourned at 7.5 p.m. until Tuesday, 7th April, 1925.