I take it that I would be in order in proposing a recommendation to the Schedule? Am I in order?
Imposition of Duties (Confirmation of Orders) Bill, 1957—Committee and Final Stages.
Sections 1 and 2 agreed to.
SCHEDULE.
Question proposed: "That the Schedule be the Schedule to the Bill".
The Senator should have given notice of this.
As far as notice goes, it would not have been possible for me to give notice until I heard the Minister's last speech, in which he said that Irish manufacturers were producing these items of agricultural interest "at or below" the imported price. It is only in the light of that information that I wish to move the deletion of this first item in the Schedule, the imposition of duties on certain ploughs, harrows and mowers.
I should perhaps have modified that slightly—at or below the price at which these goods are available of British manufacture.
That does not materially alter my view and I should, therefore, like permission to move that the item relating to Statutory Instrument, No. 227 in the Schedule, be deleted.
Is the Senator opposing the Schedule?
I am opposing part of the Schedule.
That is all the Senator can do at this stage.
On a previous occasion, it was permitted to oppose portion of the Schedule just as it is possible to oppose portion of a section. I am prepared to hand in the recommendation in writing now. I have it here.
We are in Committee on the Bill. We are dealing with the Schedule.
I took it that this was the moment to make the proposal. We have had the Bill in hands only since yesterday morning.
I would suggest that if the Senator had intended to move a recommendation, he should have asked that time be given after the Second Stage for a recommendation to the Schedule to be circulated, when we could have had the whole matter discussed in the ordinary way. At this stage, it is difficult both for the Chair and the House. If the Senator wants to test the judgement of the House on this recommendation, I will not rule against him.
I submit that information was given to us which makes it apparent, to me, at any rate, that this duty is not a necessary one and might be harmful. That information was given to us only in the Minister's last speech.
I would suggest very seriously that the Senator ought to have indicated to the Chair his desire to move a recommendation and ask that the Committee Stage ought not be permitted to be proceeded with.
On a point of personal explanation, at the end of the Second Stage I understood the Chair to say that the Bill was given a Second Reading, whereas in point of fact he was saying: "Do we take the Committee Stage now?" I am sorry; I misheard that.
I really do not feel that the Senator has any status in this matter. I put the Second Reading to the House and I then asked when the next Stage would be taken and the Leader of the Opposition said "Now." There was no opposition to the Committee Stage being taken, either from the Senator or anybody else.
May I submit that the point at issue is a clear one? It will not delay the House to make up its mind on the point. I would crave the Chair's indulgence. I did not quite realise that we had passed so swiftly from one stage to the next. I could not have submitted this recommendation earlier because I did not get the relevant information until five minutes ago.
Would the Senator read to the House the recommendation he proposes?
The recommendation is:—
That the item relating to Statutory Instrument No. 227 of 1956 be deleted.
The House has heard the Senator's recommendation. I will put it.
Recommendation put and declared lost.
Could we have a division?
Would those desiring a division please stand in their places?
Senator Sheehy Skeffington rose.
The Senator will be recorded as dissenting.
Schedule put and agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill reported without recommendation.
When is it proposed to take the next stage?
Now, if the House has no objection.
No objection.
Bill received for final consideration and ordered to be returned to the Dáil.