Before we take up consideration of the orders of the day, I should inform the House that I understand that the Minister for Finance will be engaged in the Dáil to-day and will not be able to be present in the Seanad until at the earliest 7 p.m. In the circumstances, it has been agreed, I understand, that the Finance Bill and the Appropriation Bill should be held over until to-morrow, and taken together with the Second Stages of the following Bills which have been received from the Dáil since to-day's Order Paper was prepared: Clerk of Seanad Eireann (Compensation) Bill, Public Hospitals (Amendment) Bill, Public Assistance Bill, and Air Raid Precautions Bill.
The order of business for to-day, therefore, will be: items 4, 3, 5, 6 and 7, as on the Order Paper. When that business is concluded, the Seanad will adjourn until 3 p.m. to-morrow.