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Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Aug 1927

Vol. 9 No. 9

ELECTORAL (AMENDMENT) (No. 2) BILL, 1927—FINAL STAGES.

Bill put through Committee and ordered to be reported to the House without amendment.
Bill reported to the House.

I move:—

"That the Standing Orders be suspended for the purpose of enabling the remaining stages of the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 1927, to be taken to-day, Wednesday, 10th August, 1927."

On a point of principle, I must object to this motion. It is a bad principle to bring forward these notices of motion, rushing through the different stages of important Bills. When I got the Order Paper this morning and read these two motions I said that Senator Gogarty had a "hard neck," but as soon as I came to the House I was compelled to change my mind. It is really too bad that we should have these motions dealing with important Bills. When we come along here we find notices of motion putting these Bills through all their stages in one day. I think there is nothing to prevent our coming here to-morrow to do our duty and put these Bills through their final stages. It appears to me that the only object of these notices of motion is to facilitate lazy people who will not come in here to do the work they are supposed to do on behalf of the people.

CATHAOIRLEACH

I must call attention to the fact in reference to this motion, that the Bill to which it refers was not only read a second time without any objection but no amendment was put down for the Committee Stage. Therefore, it does not seem to me that any possible complaint could be made from any side.

I hope it is not suggested that because a Bill is not opposed, or amendments down, the Standing Orders should always be suspended to enable it to be rushed through.

CATHAOIRLEACH

Not always. Of course, the Senator quite understands the position we are in now. I am not talking about any political changes. I am talking about the length of the session and the period at which we have arrived makes it convenient for everybody and not, in fact, inconvenient to the public interest that we should have an opportunity of rising at the earliest possible date. Therefore, in respect to this Bill, which is apparently non-contentious and to which no amendment was put down, I think it is not at all unreasonable that this motion should be made.

Motion put and agreed to.
Bill put through its final stages.
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