It is proposed to take Nos. 1 to 6 inclusive.
Order of Business.
In that order?
Yes.
Surely it would seem we could take some of the Motions? Apart from No. 6, there does not seem to be anything that would take up the time of the House. Could the Leader of the House inform us why we cannot take some of the Motions on the Order Paper?
The Committee of Procedure and Privileges are having a meeting today in connection with the question of Motions and a resolution will be proposed to the House in due course in regard to that matter.
Perhaps this is the appropriate time to say this. I notice on the Order of Business that there are a number of new Bills on the Order Paper and the Seanad should express their appreciation of the fact that this is so. All of us will remember that a short while ago we had a meeting after a particularly long lapse of time between Seanad meetings, and views were expressed from all sides of the House that unless the Seanad was allowed to function by getting sufficient work from the Government we might as well pack up. Certainly if that situation were to continue I think I would be the first to say that the Seanad should be abolished.
I am very pleased, indeed, and I assume it was through the efforts of the Leader of the House, possibly supported by the very strong views expressed by other Senators, that a situation has now been achieved where a number of Bills are being initiated in the Seanad and are on today's Order Paper.
Is the Order of Business agreed—Nos. 1 to 6 in that order?
Could the Leader of the House in any way enlighten those of us who are not members of the Committee of Procedure and Privileges as to the broad outlines of the resolution which is to be introduced in relation to the taking of Motions?
I think it would be better to wait until a resolution comes before the House.
The other question is whether it is intended merely to take the First Stage of each of the first four items today.
The First Stage of each Bill?
Nos. 1 to 4.
The question of the later Stages of these Bills would best be discussed on the First Readings.