Senators will see from the Order Paper that we still have two Bills of first-class importance to deal with: the Second Stage of the Public Services (Temporary Economies) Bill, and the Committee Stage of the Public Hospitals Bill. When the question was raised last week as to whether the House was likely to sit to-morrow, it being a Catholic holyday, I stated that while there was no settled procedure on that, I did not think we would have business for to-morrow. But it is quite clear that whether we take the Hospitals Bill or the Economies Bill now, the House is not likely to finish either of them before a very late hour this evening. Therefore, I would like to have the opinion of the House as to whether the House should meet to-morrow or adjourn these two Bills until next Wednesday.
Public Business. - Business of the Seanad.
Cathaoirleach
The Minister for Finance would not mind if the Economies Bill were postponed until Wednesday next, but it would be rather unfortunate, I think, if we could not finish the Committee Stage of the Hospitals Bill this evening. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health is present, and is ready to go on with the Bill. I fear that if we are not able to finish the Committee Stage of that Bill this evening we will have a very crowded Order Paper for next week's sitting. Although there are a number of amendments down to the Hospitals Bill, I think a decision on three or four of them would have an important bearing on the remainder, and that it is quite possible we may be able to finish the Committee Stage by eight o'clock.
The objection to putting off these Bills is that we will be simply snowed under with Bills of first-class importance for our meeting next week. I suggest that, unless the Minister for Finance objects to coming here to-morrow, we should fix the Second Stage of the Economies Bill for to-morrow.
At our meeting last week Senator Toal raised a question about meeting on Catholic holydays, and I think he was given to understand that the House would not meet to-morrow.
Cathaoirleach
I may have given that impression as I was then of the opinion that we would be able to dispose of all the business arranged for to-day. I also pointed out that there was no settled procedure as regards meetings of the House on Catholic holydays. I had no conception at the time that the Committee Stage of the Cement Bill would have occupied so much time to-day. It is quite clear that we cannot deal this evening with all the business on the Order Paper. It has been suggested that we should deal with part of it, and adjourn the remainder until next Wednesday.
Could we have any idea of the business that will be down for discussion next week?
Cathaoirleach
We shall have Bills dealing with the Local Government franchise, with the powers of the Seanad, with electoral amendment. These are all Bills that will require a great deal of time.
I quite agree. I think the Economies Bill is not of such an urgent nature that it could not be postponed until Wednesday next. The other Bills, sir, which you have just mentioned are of first-class importance and cannot be dismissed with a brief discussion. These Bills may occupy a couple of days next week.
Cathaoirleach
If necessary the House can sit on three days next week.
I may have given a wrong impression in what I said, but if the Seanad is willing to sit to-morrow then the Government is quite agreeable to that course. I think that for preference the Government would wish the House to meet to-morrow and dispose of the business on the Order Paper.
Cathaoirleach
Then the Government have one policy for the Dáil and another for the Seanad so far as sitting on Catholic holydays is concerned.
They are quite willing to leave that to the Seanad to decide. Their preference would be that the House would sit to-morrow so as to get over the work that is before it.
I propose that the Second Stage of the Public Services (Temporary Economies) Bill be postponed until Wednesday next.
I second.
Cathaoirleach
I take it the House is agreed to take the Committee Stage of the Public Hospitals Bill now and continue consideration of it until a quarter to 8 o'clock?
Agreed.
[The Leas-Chathaoirleach took the Chair.]