There is not any very urgent business that would oblige us to meet immediately. There are only three Bills—the Owenmore Drainage Bill, the Oil in Navigable Waters Bill, and the Acquisition of Land (Allotments) Bill—which we can possibly deal with in the next few weeks. I suggest that we might adjourn to the 27th January, which would be a week after the date on which the Dáil meets. If we meet on the date that I suggest, it may be possible that we will have enough business to keep us going for a day.
THE ADJOURNMENT.
What was the reason why these three Bills were not put down on the Order Paper to-day, especially in view of the fact that at our last meeting the Parliamentary Secretary in charge of the Owenmore Drainage Bill asked that it should be got through as quickly as possible?
The reason was that the Courts of Justice Bill, which we have just passed, was considered of paramount importance. We were in the middle of the holidays, so to speak, and as I was responsible for the framing of the Order Paper, I thought it would be your wish, so as to facilitate business, not to take any matters to-day which were not of urgent importance. I have a precedent for the course which I have followed in the case of the Medical Bill, 1925. On that occasion there were other important Bills, like the Local Government Bill and Live Stock Breeding Bill, awaiting consideration, but the Cathaoirleach decided not to take them. I was guided by that precedent, and decided not to put anything before the Seanad to-day except the Courts of Justice Bill.
I move that the Seanad do now adjourn to the 27th January.
When will the special Committee appointed to deal with the Charters Bill be summoned?
That is for the person who moved for the Committee to decide.
Then it will be time enough, when the Seanad meets again, to arrange when the Committee should meet.
Quite.
The Seanad adjourned at 3.30 p.m. to the 27th January, 1926.