At a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges this morning at which a programme of business to the Recess was discussed, I was asked to make an announcement to the House regarding the proposed course of business.
It has been arranged that the Appropriation Bill, Second Stage, will be taken this week and on the conclusion of that stage that the committee and remaining stages should be taken next week.
When the Appropriation Bill, Second Stage, has been concluded either to-day or to-morrow, motions Nos. 2, 3 and 4, which, apparently, are of a formal nature, will be taken, and when the proceedings on these have concluded, motion No. 6 in the names of Senators Burke and Smyth will be taken up to tea time to-morrow evening. At 7 p.m., on the resumption after tea, the motion in the name of Senator Duffy, No. 5 on the Order Paper, will be taken until the proceedings conclude to-morrow evening.
It has also been arranged that motion No. 7, in the names of Senators Burke and McCrea, and the amendment thereto, in the name of Senator Counihan, will be postponed until the resumption in the autumn.
Motion No. 8, in the names of Senators Douglas and Miss Butler, will also, if reached, be postponed until next week.
On the conclusion of business to-morrow night the Seanad will adjourn until Wednesday next at 3 p.m.
It is hoped that the Social Services Bill will be received from the Dáil next week, and if that be so the Second Stage of that Bill will be taken on Wednesday, 11th August, and it has been arranged, to meet the convenience of the House, to conclude the remaining stages of that Bill on the following day, that is, Thursday, 12th August.
This arrangement was only come to on the understanding, however, that the Bill would be received from the Dáil next week.