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Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 May 1925

Vol. 5 No. 3

BUSINESS OF THE SEANAD.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

We might now consider what we are to do as to the six Bills on the Order Paper. I understand that either the President or the Minister for Local Government anticipated coming into the Chamber when the Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Bill was being discussed. The Minister for Local Government has indicated that his Estimates are being taken in the Dáil, and I have sent to ask if it is the wish or desire of the President to be here. With respect to the Bills on the Order Paper, I do not think there is likely to be any opposition on the Committee Stage, or any desire for amending the Bills except, perhaps No. 6, Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Bill. Some amendments have been handed in for No. 6, and, therefore, I think it is a Bill the House would like to discuss in Committee. The question for consideration is whether the House would like to take up that Bill in Committee along with those other Bills to-morrow. Time is running with regard to these Bills, and there is a good deal further legislation on the stocks. There are some nine Bills, two or three of which are of first-class importance, on their way through the Dáil. Therefore I am anxious that while we are here we should put through as much work as we conveniently can without hustling the members. We ought to meet to-morrow and, if possible, go through the Committee Stage of these six Bills and take up the Fifth Stage of the Treason Bill. Unless I hear an objection of a substantial character, I shall put the Committee Stage of those six Bills on the Agenda to-morrow.

With regard to what you stated, to which I wish to take no objection whatever, No. 6 is a measure that excites a certain amount of controversy. If we take the Committee Stage to-morrow, I presume amendments will be accepted to-morrow.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

Yes. There is another reason why I think we should try and dispose of these Bills to-morrow. There is no business to justify me in assembling the House next week. Owing to that state of affairs I would like to get as much through as we can this week.

I see that there is a sound reason for going on with these six Bills, if we are not to meet next week, and I take it that is what the House will decide to do, but at the same time I call attention to the inconvenience of having the Committee Stage so soon after the Second Reading as we sometimes have. I think we ought to have a rule that a week should elapse between the time of the Second Reading and the Committee Stage of every Bill. There ought to be in fact a standing order in this House to that effect. There would be no objection very often in passing a Bill through all its subsequent stages in one day. It happens that all the Bills except one on the Order Paper to-day are not Bills for which a series of amendments would be moved. As a rule, we ought to insist on having a week's interval between the Second Reading and the Committee Stage.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

I am a great believer in the importance of having an interval between the Second Reading and the Committee Stage with regard to any Bill which has provoked controversy or excited public opinion. If we were to have an inflexible rule that a week were to elapse it would really be more honoured in the breach than in the observance. I am satisfied from the state of contemplated legislation that we would be compelled to dispose of the Committee Stage of some Bills and all their stages in one day.

I think that whether we make a rule or not there seems to be a certain amount of grievance if the Committee Stage is taken immediately following the Second Reading. Some of us have not time to read the Bill until it has passed the Second Reading. If it is certain that we are not to meet next week, I would be inclined to agree to take the Bills to-morrow.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

We will take up that later on.

The President was dealing with this Bill in the Dáil. My Estimates are on at the present time.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

What about the President?

He is engaged on the Army Estimates at the present time.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

They cannot both be on at the same time.

My Estimates are following immediately after the Army Estimates.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

How long do you think the Army Estimates will last?

May I suggest that the Treason Bill be taken up. Perhaps by the time it is completed the Army Estimates will be taken.

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