The Report Stage of the Bill, with the permission of the Seanad, will be taken to-morrow.
PUBLIC BUSINESS. - REPORT STAGE.
Bill, as amended, reported.
CATHAOIRLEACH
Is there any advantage in doing that, as the Dáil does not meet until February?
CATHAOIRLEACH
That is for the Seanad to consider.
I intend to hand in notice of motion to suspend Standing Orders so as to take the Fifth Stage to-morrow. I am usually very averse to suspending the Standing Orders, but if we are to have any regard to the expenditure of money the Seanad should not be brought back again on another occasion to complete this Bill, as, having regard to the discussion which has taken place, it would be the merest formality. I therefore think we should suspend Standing Orders to-morrow after the Report Stage has been completed.
There are two or three matters which the Minister has promised to look into before the Report Stage, and I cannot see that there is any real advantage in proposing to suspend Standing Orders to pass the Bill to-morrow. The Bill cannot become law because certain amendments have been made which must come before the Dáil. No doubt, all the necessary preliminaries can be carried on on the assumption that this will become an Act, under which the new council will be elected. But there is no great advantage in time in passing this Bill to-morrow. I imagine that the Seanad will be meeting before the Dáil, and both the Report Stage and the Final Stage could be taken then.
We also have to remember in connection with this that we postponed consideration of certain motions which were down for discussion to-day. These matters will arise immediately after the Recess, and we are therefore certain to have a full day or two. I think, therefore, Senator Dowdall's point does not arise.
You must pass the Expiring Laws Bill to-morrow, and there is no reason why we should take the Report Stage the day after the Committee Stage unless there is some urgency.
Ordered:—That the Report Stage of the Bill be taken when the Seanad reassembles after the Christmas Recess.
The Seanad adjourned at 7.25 p.m.