The only business proposed to be taken to-day is the completion of the Second Stage of the Transport Bill. An amendment has been tabled to the Exported Live Stock (Insurance) Bill and, as the Minister wishes to consider the amendment, it is proposed to postpone the further stage of the Bill until after Easter.
Order of Business.
Transport Bill, 1949, Second Stage.
Perhaps, before we go on, the amendments in the name of Senator Hawkins——
That item is disposed of.
The House may be at a slight disadvantage. I do not know whether Senator Counihan, who is mainly interested in the measure, is aware that we are passing from the Bill until after Easter. In order that this matter may be made clear, this is a situation which will develop because of the amendments which Senator Hawkins has handed in and Senator Hawkins might have some comment to make.
I think there can be no comments. The debate will be taken after Easter.
In case there might be any misunderstanding, I should like to point out, as I pointed out yesterday, that we are prepared to facilitate the passing of the Bill at any time the Minister likes.
Does Senator Hawkins desire to move his amendments to-day? If he does not desire to move them, presumably the Bill can be gone on with. The only reason for postponing the Bill is that Senator Hawkins has put down amendments and, if he desires to facilitate the passing of the Bill, one method for him to do so is not to move the amendments.
The Minister is not here.
We can pass a Government Bill without the Minister. If the amendment is being moved, the Minister desires to consider it, but if it is not being moved, that objection falls and the Bill can be gone on with. Is the amendment being moved? That is the point.
I do not know whether it is right that we should have a discussion on the right of a Senator to put down an amendment, but the amendments which I am putting are amendments which were suggested by the persons who are most interested in, and most closely associated with, this particular business. That being so, I do not think I would be acting properly by first putting them and then withdrawing them in order that the Bill should pass in its original form.
No question has been raised about Senator Hawkins' right to put down an amendment, but I would like to make it clear that the putting of this amendment which could be moved in the Dáil is postponing the passage of the Bill in this House until after Easter.
It is very important that we should get this Bill through to-day.
If Senator Hawkins is withdrawing his amendment——
I would implore Senator Hawkins not to move the amendments if they would hold up the passage of the Bill. Those amendments can be moved in the Dáil, as Senator Hayes stated, as well as in this House, because the Bill will have to go to the Dáil when it is finished here. There are several people in the country who are held up——
There is no necessity to make a speech. I want to know from Senator Hawkins if the amendment is being withdrawn and if the House may proceed although I am not prepared to go on in the absence of the Minister.
This discussion should not go on when we have been informed that the Minister was not prepared to come. There are some very important questions to which we should like answers from the Minister, apart entirely from the amendments. If we are approaching the matter of what the Dáil can do or should do. We should delegate all the powers of this House to the Dáil and not have this Chamber at all.
The amendment has nothing to do with the Bill. It is completely a mutual insurance Bill.
It is a Government Bill and if Senator Hawkins says he wants the Minister here, that finishes it. The matter is adjourned until after Easter.