It is proposed to take Nos. 1 and 2.
Order of Business.
I propose the following amendment to the Order of Business: That No. 5 be inserted before Nos. 1 and 2.
No. 5 is the Adoption Bill. When I raised this matter in the House on Tuesday I asked the Leader of the House when this Bill would be given a First Reading, in other words when it would be published, and he said he would have further information on that next week. The reason I raise it now as an amendment to the Order of Business is that I have been reliably informed that this House will not be sitting next week. I think this is an attempt to adjourn sine die and not to give this Bill its First Reading.
In view of the fact that the Bill has been tabled on the Order Paper and has appeared on it at least six times, and because this is the end of the session, I am anxious that it get a First Reading this term. I spoke personally to the Minister for Justice and explained the provisions of the Bill to him. He did not indicate any objection to it, which seemed to indicate that the Bill would get its First Reading without any difficulty. The normal practice is to give First Readings to Bills. This does not take up any time, as the Leader of the House will appreciate. It is very important in the public interest that this Bill should receive a First Reading this session and that it be published during the summer so that it can be commented on by interested persons such as the adoption societies and by various people who may have a contribution to make towards it and who may discuss it and suggest amendments to it. I am very anxious that we do not adjourn this session without this Bill getting its First Reading. I would ask the Leader of the House, in view of the changed circumstances in which we will rise this evening sine die, that he would give this Bill a First Reading today.
I second that amendment to the Order of Business.
Before we start the round-the-houses debate again on this, as is usual with Senator Robinson in any matter of this nature, let me point out that there is no intention whatsoever of the House adjourning forever and ever and ever. She knows very well that that is not the position. She also knows very well that this threatening attitude is not going to get anywhere. I assured her that the matter would receive consideration and that I would be in a position to give her an answer next week. If by any chance the House does not meet next week, it will meet the following week and she will get an answer. She will not get an answer by attempting this sort of blackmail.
The word "blackmail" should not be used in relation to——
I withdraw the word "blackmail", but it is annoying to find the Senator attempting to use the same tactics that she used on a previous Bill, when there is no need for it.
I wish to object to the attitude taken by Senator Ó Maoláin. The senator requests the First Reading of a Bill, and in something like this the Leader could facilitate the Member concerned, and I support strongly the giving of a First Reading to this Bill.
I should like to support the amendment of Senator Robinson.
It was agreed last night before we adjourned, that we should take No. 1 first today. I stayed over last night at considerable inconvenience on the understanding that No. 1 would be taken, but and in all fairness I support the amendment.
The taking of the First Stage would take only a few minutes.
It seems to me that in supporting this Members on this side of the House have every right to use the Standing Orders of this House in the same way as Members on the other side. I do not see any real substance in the objection of the Leader of the House. In addition, in view of the treatment that has been given to other Bills on their First Reading that, for some strange reason, Bills that have Senator Robinson's name on them are singled out for special lack of attention in this House, I hope the Government will show that this is not the case. The only thing I can see that would modify our attitude on this is a definitive commitment by the Government to take the First Stage of this Bill before the Recess.
Amendment put and declared lost.
Is the Leader of the House prepared to give an undertaking that the First Stage of the Bill will be taken before we rise definitely for the summer?
I told the Senator what the position was when she raised the matter yesterday. I have no reason to depart from that position.
I raised the matter on Tuesday and was told that the Leader of the House would have further information next week. Is it not clear—and I think he has admitted it—that we are not sitting next week? In relation to the Bills that have been tabled, the fact is that the Leader of the House has been a great deal more subject to criticism and the fact that the private Members who are attempting to do what they are here to do, in other words——
The amendment has been put, and thereafter no discussion can take place. I have said that the amendment is lost.
Order of Business agreed.