I should still like to press the Minister on this point of the farmers, even where estates are divided. Surely, out of this additional money being provided under section 2, it would be possible to include the minority of people who, in the first instance, thought they were lucky in being allocated farms by the Land Commission but subsequently found it uneconomic to pay £11 and £12 bimensal electrical charge. Surely, with this additional allocation, the Minister should find it possible to give these people at least some hope that they can connect their premises to the network?
Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill, 1968: Committee and Final Stages.
Section 1 agreed to.
SECTION 2.
Question proposed: "That section 2 stand part of the Bill."
It cannot be done under this Bill. The ESB is forbidden by law to make preferential charges to anybody in the community. I think it is just as well. I am very sorry I cannot accede to the Senator's request.
Question put and agreed to.
Sections 3 and 4 agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill reported without amendment, received for final consideration and passed.
As we have now reached 10 p.m. and have not yet started on another Bill perhaps the House would agree to adjourn at its usual hour?
We fixed on 11 p.m. today on the Order of Business. As I explained to the Seanad, the reason is to enable us to finish this programme so that, in due course, we can go into recess not later than 1st August.
It is coming to a very late hour, you will agree, to start into a new and quite important Bill— the Tourist Traffic Bill.
The decision of the House was taken on the Order of Business.
Who agreed to that on the Order of Business?
Acting Chairman
The House.
Are we to sit beyond 11 p.m.?
Acting Chairman
Until 11 p.m.
Who made the agreement?
I cannot help it if the Senator was not here. The House agreed to it on the Order of Business. There was no objection.