Before the business begins I should like to give notice that I shall, on the adjournment, call attention to the refusal of the Government to make public the plans and prices on which Messrs. Siemens' estimate for the Shannon scheme is based.
THE SHANNON SCHEME.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
Perhaps I should mention in connection with that, that I have received a request from the Minister for Industry and Commerce to ascertain from the Seanad if they would wish to have a discussion upon a motion similar to that which was introduced by him last week in the Dáil, and, if so, he would be glad if a date was fixed for it. He asked me to ascertain what the wishes and the views of the Seanad were with regard to it. Senators are aware that since the matter was before the Seanad a motion was introduced and discussed in the Dáil, and the Minister is quite prepared to have a similar motion proposed here if the Seanad wish. If they think they have already discussed it sufficiently, of course that is a matter for the Seanad, not for me, but the Minister is quite prepared to have the motion introduced if the Seanad wish for an opportunity to debate it. If the Seanad expresses a desire to debate the matter, perhaps that opportunity would satisfy Senator Sir John Keane.
I would be satisfied if the debate took place at an early date, but as early legislation is contemplated, the object of my notice is to attempt to obtain from the Government an undertaking that these relevant documents shall be in our hands during the Easter Recess when we are studying the scheme and making up our minds with regard to impending legislation.
On the adjournment of the Seanad on the last occasion, I raised a point with reference to getting the Housing Bill through before Easter, so that this is really an emergency meeting of the Seanad for that purpose.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
Of course, there cannot be a debate on this matter. A matter introduced on the adjournment is generally confined to the Senator who raises it. He does not move a motion, but simply calls attention to a matter which he wishes to ventilate, and the Minister, if he is present, is entitled to reply. There is no time allowed for discussion.
I do not wish Senator Sir John Keane's discourse to be wasted on a relatively small assembly.
The suggestion made by the Minister is a very excellent one. As far as I am personally concerned, I should very much like that we should have an opportunity of discussing a resolution similar to the one submitted to the Dáil. That apparently is the desire of the Minister. At all events, he is prepared to meet us if we wish to have that discussion. I think we ought to take every opportunity of discussing this very important question, and I strongly support the suggestion that we should have a discussion on a resolution similar to the one introduced in the Dáil on a date to be appointed to suit the convenience of the Seanad. As far as Senator Sir John Keane's notice is concerned, he is quite at liberty to make his speech this afternoon, but I am sorry that more Senators are not here to hear it. That will not interfere in any way with the discussion on the other motion, whenever a date is set down for the purpose.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I do not think the Minister expressed that great keenness for this further discussion the Senator attributes to him. I think the furthest he has gone is to say that if the Seanad pressed for such a discussion he is prepared to meet them.
I would be most anxious to meet the Minister.
Do I understand from your ruling that there can be no discussion on the question on the adjournment?
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
No; what I pointed out was that there is no motion moved, and, as a rule, the discussion is confined to the Senator who wishes to call attention to a particular matter and the Minister replies, if he is here. The idea is that half an hour is all that is allowed for discussion. There is no resolution and no division.
But other people besides the Senator raising the question can discuss the matter, I presume?
It would probably be wiser to fix a time for further discussion of this matter, as suggested by the Minister, after the Easter adjournment. Personally, I do not feel any desire to discuss it, but in view of the various discussions that have taken place since the last debate amongst Senators, and the matter that Senator Sir J. Keane wishes to call attention to, I think it is better to accept the proposal of the Minister and to have the matter debated openly in the Seanad at a very early date after the reassembly. If Senator Sir J. Keane raises this matter on the adjournment, he will be within his rights, but I would respectfully suggest to him, in view of the understanding come to, which was not a binding understanding, but was generally accepted by Senators, it would be better if the matter were taken up after Easter instead of this evening.
I feel that I must raise the point, as early legislation is contemplated, in order to point out the crying need for these documents so as to form a judgment on the scheme.
I just want to point out, in reply to Senator Sir John Keane, that even if he ventilates the point, he has no assurance that he is going to get either plans or prices.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
Probably that is the reason he is ventilating it.