It is proposed to take Items Nos. 1 and 2.
Business of Seanad.
May I ask a question about motions? When are the motions on the Order Paper likely to be reached? There are six motions on the Paper and I think it desirable to reach them as soon as possible.
I should like to support Senator Quinlan, because we frequently find, at the end of a day's debate, that we have not reached the motions, but it appears today that we will have some time. As Senator Quinlan says, there are a number of motions before the House and I feel that we should take some of them now, either in the order in which they occur or in another order. I think we should tackle them. It takes, I understand, £200 to assemble the Seanad and when it is assembled, we should use it.
The difficulty is that last week the Minister was ready to take motions Nos. 4 and 5, but with regard to No. 5, the Senator was not ready to go on and in regard to No. 4, the proceedings of the Seanad continued right up to the adjournment and there was not time. The position now is that the Minister is available today to take No. 4 and the Senator in whose name the motion is tabled will not be available until later in the evening. It is very difficult so to arrange matters that both sides are on the spot at the time required. I cannot see at the moment when these motions will be taken, in view of the amount of Government business on the Order Paper for the next couple of weeks.
Might I point out that motion No. 4 has been on the Order Paper for almost a year now and is very much out of date. While it was quite relevant——
We just cannot go into that matter.
Can we have an assurance that some time will be set aside before the Adjournment, to take the motions, even if it is necessary to sit an additional day next week, seeing that we are assembled for the purpose?
Could we be told what business we are expected to transact before the recess? The Leader of the House made a rather terrifying statement a moment ago when he spoke of "the next couple of weeks." I do not like that.
I shall let the House know before the adjournment this evening the amount of business we expect to take.
You will make a statement before the House rises?
Yes.
Thank you.