With regard to the motion on the Order Paper in my name in connection with this Bill, it is unfortunate that the Minister had not time to deal with the amendments sent in for the Committee Stage. In view of that I ask that the further consideration of the Bill be postponed until next week.
Agricultural Produce (Cereals) Bill, 1932. - Agricultural Produce (Cereals) Bill, 1933—Second Stage.
Question proposed: That this Bill be now read a Second Time.
Question put and agreed to.
Cathaoirleach
If you do not move your motion, Senator, then automatically the Committee Stage of the Bill will not be taken until Wednesday next.
Mr. Robinson
I am not moving my motion.
Cathaoirleach
The Committee Stage of this Bill will be taken on Wednesday next.
Before that is settled——
Cathaoirleach
It has been settled, Senator.
I would just like to say that we have a very large attendance of Senators at our meeting to-day. This is quite a different question to the one that we debated a little while ago. I do not know of any reason why the House should hold this measure up, or what is to prevent us, even if we cannot have the Minister present, discussing it. Is there any reason why we should postpone the discussion for a whole week? I know a good many Senators who have come here specially to-day for the discussion on this Bill. I would like to know from Senator Robinson if there is any real reason why we should not go ahead with the Bill now?
Mr. Robinson
No, except that the Minister, as I have already stated, had not time to deal with all the amendments that have been handed in. The Minister has to be in the Dáil to-day so that, even if we were to postpone the discussion until to-morrow, I am afraid he would not have time to look into the amendments so as to be ready for the discussion here.
It seems an extraordinary thing that this postponement should be opposed by the very people who insisted on a ridiculous adjournment a few moments ago on another matter. They now turn around and say that they want to go on with this. It would really make a pig laugh.
What I said was that a great many Senators had come up from the country for the discussion on this Bill. They made all arrangements to be in attendance here for two days, because nobody ever expected that the Committee Stage of this important measure would be finished to-day. This is a very serious Bill, and I do not see why we should postpone discussion on it for a whole week. The Government are so anxious to get it through that they are taking advantage of the power given under the Constitution to force it through by a certain date. No reason has been given for not taking the Committee Stage to-day.
Mr. Robinson
I would like to say, in connection with the motion on the Order Paper standing in my name, that there is no intention either to curtail or burke reasonable discussion on this Bill. The Bill in its present form was before the Seanad last December when, after a three days' debate, it got a Second Reading. I regard a Second Reading debate on the Bill to-day as a mere formality.
The Bill has got a Second Reading.
Cathaoirleach
As there is no motion before the House proposing to take the Committee Stage of the Bill to-day I ask the House to fix the Committee Stage for Wednesday next, 15th March.
Ordered accordingly.