I should like to assure Senators that there was nothing sinister in my proposal to continue the sitting today without the usual break for tea. My aim was to ensure that the business ordered would be dealt with tonight, in view of the fact that, as Senators are aware, tomorrow is a Church holiday and the Seanad does not meet on such occasions.
Business of Seanad.
Why did we not meet at 3 o'clock today?
Before the sitting opened, I was under the impression there would be no objection to the course suggested, in view of the fact, as all Senators are aware, that to-morrow is a Church holiday. Representations have been made to me since then that, even with the tea break, the business ordered can be got through tonight. I have discussed the matter with the deputy leader of the main Opposition Party and I have been told that all Stages of the Pigs and Bacon Bill, the Committee Stage of the Electoral Bill and the Report Stage of the Charities Bill will be completed tonight. In view of this assurance, I have no objection to the tea break and I now have pleasure in moving the adjournment of the House until 7.15 p.m.
For the information of members of the House, who are not in touch with any Party Whip or political organisation, could we be told now how long we will be asked to sit for the purpose of disposing of this business? I should not like to be told later that we had agreed to sit far into the night.
I think we should wait and see how long the business takes and how it progresses.
I do not think we should be committed to meeting beyond the normal time and we are, I think, entitled to an explanation as to why we did not meet at 3 o'clock today. We have lost two hours.
That was indicated at the opening of the discussion.
Business suspended at 6.10 p.m. and resumed at 7.15 p.m.