Before we take up the next item on the Order Paper, that is, the Appropriation Bill for this year, I should inform the House that I have received notices of intention to raise nine matters for discussion on the Second Stage of the Bill. The Chair has frequently indicated its view that on omnibus Bills, such as the Appropriation and Central Fund Bills, notice in advance should be given to the Minister for Finance, who cannot be expected to be acquainted with details of administration or to be answerable for policy or activities of Departments other than those of his own immediate Department. I presume I may say therefore that the Minister for Finance will also welcome the departure and that we both hope that it will lead to more relevant and fruitful debate.
Seeing that the number of subjects of which notice had been given on this occasion was fairly large, I took an opportunity of consulting with the Committee on Procedure and Privileges at a meeting this morning for the purpose of evolving a method of selection of subjects and a procedure which would be satisfactory to all sides of the House.
As a result of that consultation and with the agreement of the committee I propose that the debate on the Second Stage should be conducted on the following lines. The Minister for Finance will make a formal statement opening the debate on the Bill, as is customary, and when this has concluded I propose, in the order in which notices were received, and with due grouping of Departments, to announce the subjects common to a Department, finish with the Department concerned and then proceed to the next subject and Department. Debate will not, of course, be confined to the Senator giving notice and to the Minister responsible. Any Senator who desires to participate in the debate on the particular subject matter will be at liberty to do so before the Minister intervenes. In short, I propose that we should go through the subjects somewhat as we do with sections of a Bill, limiting discussion to matters relevant to the particular subject (or subjects if there are more than one) for a Department.
When the House has finished debate on the matters of which notice has been given, the Chair will then permit questions to the Minister for Finance arising on Votes for which he is personally responsible, but I suggest matters then raised should be in the form of questions, and should not be matters which would give rise to further debate.
If the House is agreeable we can proceed accordingly. The procedure will, I think, prove helpful to the Chair in regulating debate, and I hope it will be helpful also to Ministers and to the House as a whole.
Perhaps it would be for the convenience of the House if I indicate at this point the subject matters of which notice has been given. They are as follows:—
Departments of Finance or Agriculture: Committee on post-war problems connected with agriculture, terms of reference, personnel, etc.: (Senator Baxter). Department of Education: Report on the teaching of Irish—with special reference to the statements made concerning that report by the Minister for Education: (Senator O'Connell); proposal to appoint advisory examiners for the Intermediate Leaving Certificate examinations: (Senator Tierney); dilapidated condition of school buildings in rural areas —with particular reference to County Cavan: (Senator Baxter). Department of Industry and Commerce: Policy in regard to the regulation of emigration: (Senator The McGillycuddy of the Reeks); freight rates Lisbon to Dublin: (Senator Crosbie); Conisberg Lightship, substitution of buoy: (Senator Crosbie). Department of Supplies: Steps taken or in contemplation to provide artificial manures: (Senator The McGillycuddy of the Reeks). Department of Posts and Telegraphs: Broadcasting as it presents itself to residents in rural areas: (Senator McGee).
