On the question of the adjournment, there is a matter that I should like to mention which might I think facilitate the future business of the House. I take it that the House will now adjourn until 22nd August. As far as one can see, a number of important Bills are likely to be passed through the Dáil in the interval. Could we have some of these important Bills that require careful consideration, sent on to us after they had passed the Dáil? It might save time, and shorten the period that we would have to keep the staff here, if an arrangement could be made that those Bills should reach Senators at least a week or ten days before the reassembling of the Seanad so that amendments sent in might be taken the following day after Second Stage. If notice was sent out to Senators stating that the Cathaoirleach would receive amendments on Committee Stage immediately after Second Reading, instead of three or four days having to elapse between the Second Reading Stage and the Committee Stage, it would be possible to proceed with some of these Bills immediately instead of having to adjourn again for a week or a fortnight.
Adjournment.
I would not like to have it thought that one would be debarred from putting down amendments after the Second Reading debate. It might not be until after the Second Reading Stage that one might determine to put down an amendment.
Cathaoirleach
The Senator could not be debarred from doing so, but the suggestion made by Senator Douglas is a very admirable one, namely, that Senators should send in, before the 22nd August, amendments that might seem desirable to them with a view to facilitating business. It is very desirable that we should enable the staff to get their holidays as early as possible.
I do not think that perhaps I made myself quite clear. What I meant was that Senators should be invited to send in their amendments so that we would have them immediately after the Second Stage. The Seanad would then decide whether to deal with these amendments in Committee the next day after the Second Reading Stage.
I do not think I could agree to any such suggestion for taking away the powers of the House.
Cathaoirleach
It is not taking away any power. It is a suggestion that a certain number of amendments should be taken immediately after the Second Stage but it is only a suggestion—a pious hope.
What would be the position of a Senator who says "The Second Reading Stage shows me certain matters that I should like to raise in the form of amendments"?
Cathaoirleach
When that question arises we can decide. All we have at present is a suggestion from Senator Douglas, and I think a very valuable suggestion, that any Senator having amendments that he desires to have inserted in Bills should send them into the Clerk before we meet again. This might assist the House in dealing with the business.
Would it not require a motion that after the Second Stage the remaining stages should be taken immediately?
I think there is a discretion in the Cathaoirleach with reference to amendments on the Committee Stage.
A good many of us would object to any rushing of legislation, no matter for what consideration. I think we should follow the usual procedure and not accept this suggestion.
Cathaoirleach
There will be no rush at all. If any Senator feels that he is aggrieved all he has to do is to insist on the ordinary procedure.
The Seanad adjourned at 3.45 p.m. until Wednesday, 22nd August, 1934.