It is proposed to take No. 1 on the Order Paper. It is hoped to finish the Committee Stage today.
Order of Business.
Is it not intended to adjourn at 6 o'clock?
I think if we delayed a decision on that matter until we see how the debate goes it might be better. We are anxious to have the Committee Stage finished today if at all possible.
We are all anxious to get the Committee Stage finished but let us be quite clear about it. If we could finish the Committee Stage a few minutes after 6 o'clock nobody would object, but certainly I think it is sufficient to sit until 6 o'clock and resume the Committee Stage next week, if we have to. As far as I am concerned, I am not obstructing the passage of the Bill but there is no good endeavouring to get this measure through in too much of a hurry. As I have said on many previous occasions, this is a characteristic of Ministers of all Parties— they bring in a Bill and they have a date. There is nothing sacred about the date. This Bill deserves some consideration and attention and I think I can say it will not be obstructed today in any shape or form. We should make up our minds to adjourn at 6 o'clock and, if not already done, finish the Committee Stage next week.
There is no question of trying to circumscribe the debate or trying to rush this Bill through, but if we could finish the Bill by 6 o'clock it would be advisable to do so.
Yes.
If by then it looks as if we could finish it in another hour or two I do not see why we should not do it, so that we could have the remaining Stages next week.
I think with this slight touch of the whip on the horse's flanks we could get through by 6 o'clock.
We have had enough horse talk.
Let me be clear so that nobody will be left under a misapprehension. I do not subscribe to the view that we ought to sit until 8 or 9 o'clock to finish this Bill. Certainly we ought to make as much progress as we can and, if we seem to be within half an hour of finishing at 6 o'clock, we can go on but I do not think Senator Ó Maoláin or the Minister will lose anything if we adjourn at 6 o'clock.
Do we adjourn for lunch at the usual hour?
I think the Leader of the House is reasonable in saying if we can finish the Committee Stage in another hour or two after 6 o'clock it would be well to sit on.
I should like to support Senator Hayes because those of us who are up from the country will have to stay over another night if the debate continues after 6 o'clock.
I agreed to the House sitting at 11 o'clock this morning in order to facilitate the members from the country. There is no need to impede those members in getting home but if it is reasonable to carry on for an hour after 6 o'clock we should do so.
Do réir mar a thuiteann sé amach.