It is proposed to take Nos. 2, 3 and 4. It is proposed to sit at 3 p.m. tomorrow and to take Nos. 5, 6 and 7 on today's Order Paper then.
Private Business. - Order of Business.
That is agreed.
As a signatory to Motion No. 14 I should like to ask the Leader of the House that the Seanad should soon get the opportunity to debate the situation in Northern Ireland, particularly in view of the signing of the historic agreement at Sunningdale, which we note.
The Seanad is aware that a decision on this does not rest with me. I agree with the Senator that it would be welcome to have an early discussion but I have no control over this.
This point has been brought up before. There are a series of motions which are clearly not going to be considered during this sitting of the Seanad. I am referring to the motions concerning the National Museum, the National Library and the motions put down by Senator West dealing with the Irish Manuscripts Commission and the report defining the role of public transport. These would appear to be postponed indefinitely. The postponement of such motions makes a mockery of our whole proceedings. In spirit with what Senator West has said I should like to suggest that when the business coming from the Dáil is not bearing down on the House, two or three days should be set aside for the Seanad to meet and discuss these matters which are so particularly within their competence to discuss.
The Senator will be aware that we have adopted a scheme of procedure with regard to motions. We are trying to implement that as best we can, and it is purely an accident that we are not taking a motion this week. We had arranged to take one but it did not suit the proposer of the motion. It is my intention to try to arrange to take at least one motion each month, which was the original scheme.