It is now 1 a.m. Accordingly, the Seanad will adjourn until 10.30 a.m.
Adjournment Debate. - Business of Seanad.
In view of the time of year and of the fact that we are now in Holy Thursday, coming up very close to Easter, and in view of the lack of any particular urgency about this Bill, I suggest that we adjourn not until tomorrow but until this day next week.
I appeal to the Leader of the House and to the Minister. Despite their view of the attitude of the Opposition here, we have a responsibility to be sincere about this. It has to be seen to be right. We are just doing a parliamentary job. Give us the time and do not press people on. I suggest that we adjourn until next week.
This seems an extraordinary attitude from Senators who objected to sitting late tonight for the purpose of trying to dispose of the Second Reading of the Bill. I was charged with endeavouring to curtail discussion when I was suggesting to the Seanad that the number of hours available for discussion today should be broadened so as to try to achieve finality on the Second Stage of the Bill. Members of the party opposite occupied the whole of the additional time which was allocated today. I shall not comment on whether they were wise or unwise or right or wrong to do that, but they have been occupying the time of this House on this Holy Thursday morning already. I see no reason why the House should not meet tomorrow in order to try to conclude the Second Reading of the Constituencies Bill. This is at least the fifth time this House sat during Holy Week. On one occasion during the last Seanad we sat through Saturday into Sunday morning.
That was for an extreme emergency, a matter of the utmost emergency in relation to security. We never met, at least during the last few years, on a Holy Thursday. This Bill is not an urgent one.
We have a proposition that the House adjourn until 10.30 a.m. and an amendment that the House be adjourned until Wednesday, 17th April. I propose to put the original motion to the House, and pending the outcome of this we shall see if any further decision is necessary. Accordingly the question before the House is: "That the House do now adjourn until 10.30 a.m.".
Question put and declared carried.
The Seanad adjourned at 1.10 a.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 11th April, 1974.