This day week, for which the further stages of the Bills we have considered have been fixed, is All Saints' Day. Has it been decided that we should sit on a Church holiday?
Sittings of Seanad.
Cathaoirleach
That is a matter for the Seanad. We have actually arranged business for next Wednesday.
The House is quite satisfied to sit next Wednesday.
I have no objection if the House is agreeable to sit on Wednesday.
The other House has set us an example and I think it is not right that we should sit on Church holidays. There is no urgency on this occasion and I think we might arrange to sit on another day. It is an important Church holiday and it is not fair that we should be asked to assemble on that day. The following day is also a very important day, and I think we ought to arrange some other day for our next meeting.
It is very awkward to have this sprung upon us now. A lot of us, who did not know about this Church holiday, had arrangements made for next week and now this is being changed without any previous notice.
As far as I am concerned, any day next week will suit me. Tuesday, Friday or any other day will suit.
It does appear to be a bit ridiculous that one House of the Oireachtas has decided not to meet on Church holidays. It does seem to be an absurd arrangement that one House should meet on Church holidays and the other not to meet.
We can meet on Tuesday so.
Very well.
Cathaoirleach
Then we should discharge the order for taking the Report Stages of the Bills on Wednesday next if it is now desired to meet on Tuesday.
I propose that the House meet on Tuesday; that the order for taking the Report Stages of Bills on Wednesday be discharged, and that they be taken on Tuesday next.
I second.
Question put and agreed to.
Ordered accordingly.
In view of this decision, can it now be definitely understood that we cannot meet in future on Church holidays, and so have an end to this uncertainty that is so very annoying to people who make their plans ahead?
Cathaoirleach
I am afraid I could not make any definite order to that effect. It is a matter for the House to consider.
Many of us do not know these Church holidays. Very few of us knew last week that next Wednesday is a Church holiday, and we made all our plans without knowing that it was. Can the staff in future have instructions to draw attention to the fact that some day in the immediate succeeding weeks for which the later stages of Bills may be fixed is a Church holiday?
Cathaoirleach
I shall instruct my clerks to that effect.
It is not fair to the House to say that very few knew that next Wednesday is a Church holiday. Everybody knew that it was.
Well, nobody mentioned it.
Cathaoirleach
Most of the Senators knew it.
Altering the date to next Tuesday means that the amendments to the Unemployment Assistance Bill must be in on Saturday before 1 o'clock, because Saturday is a short day.
Cathaoirleach
Yes. Then all the stages of these Bills to-day and the previous Bills will be taken on next Tuesday.
Am I to understand that all stages are to be taken on Tuesday?
Cathaoirleach
We have not arranged so far that all stages will be taken.