It is proposed to take No. 1 only. There was general agreement in the House last week that the Fourth and remaining Stages of the Bill be taken today. I hope that will be achieved. If business is not concluded by then it is proposed to break today from 5 o'clock to 6.30 to facilitate the Members, officers and others who may wish to go to the removal of the remains of Miss Behan.
Order of Business.
Again I rise concerning Motion No. 3 in the name of Senator Lenihan and myself. This motion would give an opportunity to the Minister to explain the critical situation which exists, or to express thoughts on this critical situation regarding the farmers and the application of those directives. I would ask the Leader of the House to assure me that this motion will be taken as a matter of urgency. There are a number of people suffering on account of the situation that exists.
Could the Leader of the House tell me when it will be possible to take Motion No. 19 in my name and in the name of a number of other Senators?
I should like if the Leader of the House would give us some information on when the motions referred to can be taken, Motions Nos. 19 and 3. As far as today's proceedings are concerned, it is agreed that we continue with the Report and Final Stages and finish both this evening. I appreciate that it is agreed also that we adjourn from 5 o'clock to 6.30 to allow for attendance at the removal of the late Miss Behan's remains. I should like some indication about when these important motions are to be taken. We have often given pious expression here to motions of importance. Certainly the two that are mentioned are most important and are pertinent. It is indefensible to have motions lying here on the Order Paper until they become irrelevant. This has often happened before.
Certainly Motion No. 3 in regard to the EEC modernisation scheme in so far as the development of farming is concerned is all-important and very pertinent particularly to the western, north-western and south-western areas of the country. Similarly, the discussion document on Local Government reorganisation is also very pertinent. I would ask the Leader of the House to indicate what priority or preference he proposes to give to have a specific day allocated for what we, on this side of the House, regard as two very pertinent and relevant motions at this time.
I am not in a position to say anything about Motion No. 19 at the moment because the Whip has not had an opportunity of making specific inquiries about it.
As regards Motion No. 3, I think in fairness to the Minister it should be pointed out that he was standing by on at least two occasions to take the motion when it was ordered and it was not reached. Ultimately on Holy Thursday Senator Killilea indicated that he was prepared to have it dropped from the Order of Business for that day, and consequently we did not go ahead with it. The position is that the Minister, as Senators are aware, is away at the moment. He seems to be doing extremely good work for the farming community here. He has already indicated his wish to go ahead with this motion and, while I do not want it to be regarded as a definite commitment, because I will not know until the Minister is back to say so himself, we hope to be able to take the motion on Thursday of next week.
I think Senators Killilea and Lenihan will agree that we have made every effort to have this motion brought for discussion to the Seanad. The Senators, as they are perfectly entitled to do and I am not criticising them for it, did opt to continue discussion on a different topic on occasions when this motion might have been reached.
I would remind Senators that they are confined to a question at this point.
In view of the fact that urban councillors and urban council candidates of all parties are being selected at the moment and that many of them of all parties are wondering whether it is worthwhile at all standing for election in view of the document issued by the Minister for Local Government, I feel it would be satisfying for public representatives of all parties if an opportunity were given to the Minister to express his views on the subject. In view of this urgency, would the Leader of the House—I appreciate that up to now the Minister has been busy—now that he will have less to do as far as this legislation is concerned try to arrange a date as soon as possible for this motion?
I am sure the Minister would be very sorry to see Senator McGlinchey not standing for the local council, and in view of that I will ask Senator Sanfey to make specific inquiries about that motion.
I can assure the Minister and the House that I am standing.
I accept what the Leader of the House has said concerning next Thursday and I would appreciate it if this motion could be dealt with then. I should like to clarify one point. While I agree with him in his statement about next Thursday, I do not agree with him on the reasons why it must be next Thursday. He was the person who created precedents here in this House by keeping us here until 1 o'clock on Holy Week. I put it on the record of this House that I felt the staff of this House—and I gave my reasons— were entitled at least to have Holy Thursday or part of that day free from work. They were denied this due to the ignorance of the Government in their handling of this Bill.
Might I just say I accept that Senator's Killilea's reasons for deferring discussion of the motion were entirely proper, but I do regret the fact that he and his colleagues did not take advantage of the extra six hours afforded to them on the Wednesday and Thursday——
What the Leader of the House is saying is that we should have asked the staff of the House to continue to work on Holy Thursday after working the previous night until 1 o'clock due to a ridiculous situation created by the Leader of the House, the Government and the Minister, who, I notice, is absent today.
In case the House has any doubt, I should like to point out that the last few contributions have not been in order.
Could I take it as certain that priority will be given to what Senator Killilea and I regard as an important motion—Motion No. 3— and that everything will be done by the Leader of the House to facilitate that being taken on Thursday of next week?
That is so.
The other motion mentioned by Senator McGlinchey, No. 19, is regarded on our side as important also.
Yes, they will take their place according as it can be arranged.