May I draw attention to the fact that it is now 10 p.m. and get an expression of the wishes of the House? We have about 30 or 40 of these amendments to do and, if the young tigers and lions of whom we hear are anxious to proceed to midnight or 1 a.m. to deal with them, I am sure this young colt of a Minister we have will be quite prepared to do it. Could we have an expression of the wishes of the House, because otherwise it is adjournment time and we might adjourn?
Business of Seanad.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
It is a matter for the House to decide.
The Minister has been very patient and tolerant with the House. There are many more amendments and sections yet to be dealt with and I think we ought to adjourn the House.
Even if we did sit until 1 o'clock we could not finish the business that is before us——
It is not possible.
——and if we cannot finish the business that is before us it is pointless to stay until 1 o'clock.
Would the House facilitate me by completing the Committee Stage on next Wednesday?
Try to.
We will try to but that is not unconditional.
It depends on whether we meet on Tuesday.
If the Minister would like to say Tuesday and Wednesday.
The position is that we are anxious to get this Bill passed all its Stages—in fact we must get it passed all its Stages—by Tuesday week next. Therefore, the Committee Stage must finish next Wednesday at the very latest if a week is to be given for the Report. I suggest that we meet then on the following Tuesday to deal with the Report Stage so that the Bill can go back to the Dáil on Wednesday morning. It should not take more than a day's sitting anyway for the Report Stage.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
The Chair is concerned with two things: firstly, the control of today's sitting and, secondly, the decision in regard to when the House sits next. We cannot possibly look forward to what will be done on Report at this Stage. We must make these earlier decisions.
We are prepared to sit on Tuesday and Wednesday and to allow an interval of six days between that and the Report Stage. We do not want to hold up the Bill. If there is any alternative the Minister can suggest we may fall in with it. We do not want to hold up the Minister on the Bill.
There should be no reason why this Bill could not be finished on Wednesday at the rate of progress we have been making. If we did sit down, with all respect to Senator Belton, I feel we would finish it. It should be possible to finish it in a reasonable time on Wednesday and that would give six days for Report.
The House will do its best. That is what the Minister tells us.
It would be unfair to ask us for a firm commitment. We appreciate the Minister's difficulty and we obviously want to facilitate him in this but it would be unfair to ask us, at this late hour tonight, when we are very tired, to give a firm undertaking for next week.
Is the Minister free on Tuesday?
I move that we adjourn until Wednesday at 3 p.m.
The Seanad adjourned at 10.5 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Wednesday 4th February, 1970.