Senator O'Hanlon has a motion to propose in connection with the Agricultural Products (Regulation of Export) Bill, 1933, and the Minister is here to deal with the matter.
Agricultural Products (Regulation of Export) Bill, 1933.
Cathaoirleach
This afternoon I moved a motion which was carried by the House in connection with the Agricultural Products (Regulation of Export) Bill. On account of representations made since, I should like to move the following motion: "That the Order of this day ordering that the Committee of the whole Seanad on the Agricultural Products (Regulation of Export) Bill, 1933, do sit again on Wednesday, 16th August be discharged, and that the Committee sit again at 12 noon, to-morrow."
I beg to second the motion.
I am not objecting to the motion, but it occurs to me, as perhaps a very ordinary member of the Seanad, that this is a most unusual procedure. About one and a half hours ago it was decided by the Seanad that this matter be adjourned to 16th August. I am one of those Senators who remained here, but many other Senators have left. In any other assembly that I have been attached to I must say such a thing as this would never occur. It is a most extraordinary procedure to adopt in connection with the resolution carried a short time ago that at the tail-end of the meeting a motion should be proposed rescinding the original motion. If you, sir, are satisfied that the Standing Orders are being complied with, I am not going to raise any objection, but I certainly raise a personal protest against the procedure adopted.
I had an opportunity of discussing this matter with some of the Senators who were in favour of adjourning the discussion until 16th August and I think that amendments will be moved to-morrow in the Committee Stage that at least will satisfy them. It is for the Seanad to decide to-morrow whether these amendments are satisfactory or not. I take it they will decide also when the Committee Stage is finished whether the remaining Stages of the Bill should be taken to-morrow.
Cathaoirleach
The Minister represented to me that this is a matter of great urgency and that is the reason for the course which is being taken.
I think Senator O'Neill is right when he says that we are taking an extraordinary action in dealing with this matter in this way, but in urgent cases extraordinary action has to be taken. The Minister has seen some of us who were prominent in the debate which took place and has shown us the urgency of this matter. We think it is right that the Minister should have an opportunity of explaining to the House to-morrow why he wants this policy adopted. He has persuaded those of us who took an active part in the debate that it is in the interests of the State that we should pass this motion now and that the matter should be considered to-morrow. I think it is right to say that I agree with Senator O'Hanlon's motion, and that it will be far better in the interests of everybody that we should discuss the matter to-morrow.
Motion put and agreed to.