It is proposed to take No. 1 only today. We are in a little bit of difficulty as regards sittings for the remainder of the week. There is a Social Welfare (Pay-Related Benefit) Bill in the Dáil. We had hoped it would come here tomorrow to be taken by us. If that does not happen, it looks as though we must sit on Friday and we will not be sitting tomorrow. I understand it might be possible by co-operation on both sides in the other House to arrange that the Bill might come to us tomorrow. I am simply mentioning that in general terms. If my friends opposite like to interpret it as an invitation to do what they can to get it for tomorrow's business we would be very glad. As things stand at the moment, we will not be sitting tomorrow but will be sitting on Friday.
Order of Business.
I object to this. I will endeavour to help decisions taken in the Dáil today. I can only speak to my Whip about that and see if he would agree to take this business today. Maybe it is not possible. Their programme is already drawn up. If it is not taken today, it will not be taken in the Dáil until late tomorrow. That means we will not have it until Friday. It is most unfair to expect country Senators to wait here, or to go home, if they like, and come back again on Friday. In the other House they know every Saturday how many days and the hours they will sit the next week. We never know. I am not blaming the Leader of the House or Senator Sanfey for this. It is not their fault; it is the fault of the people in the other House.
It has been said today that it is our fault this time, because our people held up the Bill in the other House, a Bill which should be with us tonight at 7.30. That may be so, but I cannot see the urgency to sit on Friday. We could take that Bill on Tuesday or Wednesday next week. I would imagine it would be completed in this House within a few hours. When I mentioned that I was told this would not suit the Parliamentary Secretary, because he would be available only on Friday. It looks as if 60 people here have to accommodate one man. That is most unfair. I, for one, object to sitting on Friday of this week. Firstly, we were not informed of this in time, and, secondly, it is not that urgent.
There is not before the House a proposal to sit on Friday. I was merely mentioning that as a matter of courtesy and in the hope that it might be possible to get co-operation. I am not making any proposal at this stage. That will come later today.
What time on Friday?
10.30 a.m.
We on this side of the House are limited in number. Many of us are committed to Friday's work at home as members of other bodies. We have no objection to sitting on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, that is, three days every week for as many weeks as the House needs us. But sitting on Friday is a completely new situation. Fianna Fáil Senators especially will find it practically impossible to meet on Friday because we are already committed to doing work at home.
All bodies are important bodies and this body is as important as others but, as I have already intimated, we do not feel the pressures so much if we sit on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Today we will probably finish one Bill and we have to linger around the city all day Thursday doing private work and then sit here on Friday at 10.30. That is not fair to Senators. We may have been accused of not doing enough in the past but we have certainly been working very hard for the last five or six weeks. The extra sitting on Friday is not necessary.
The Leader of the House mentioned that he was seeking co-operation. I do not think there is co-operation on either side of the House to work in the Seanad on a Friday. I suggest we sit on Tuesday to take this Bill, if it is co-operation the Leader of the House wants.
If we want to occupy the time of this House tomorrow—as it is the intention to sit on Friday—we might take motion No. 34 which deals with the White Paper on the National Agricultural Advisory, Education and Research Authority. This document, which was circulated last week and is being discussed throughout the country, should be discussed in this House, too. Perhaps the Leader of the House could arrange it for tomorrow? I would like an assurance that no further steps will be taken until such time as it is discussed in this House.
I accept that the Leader of the House is being courteous at this stage in indicating that the House may sit on Friday, and not tomorrow. In return, perhaps we should be courteous to him. If the House is not sitting tomorrow but Friday, I will go home this evening and return Friday morning. I will be quite content to sit here Friday, Saturday and Sunday and I would suggest to the Leader of the House that perhaps he should make arrangements along those lines.
Does the Senator suggest I book accommodation for him?
No.
I have nothing to add to what I said. I am not suggesting that there has been any degree of lack of co-operation from Senator W. Ryan or his colleagues as regards business here. I do not know sufficient about the business arrangements in the other House to be dogmatic about it. My only suggestion was that, as far as I know, with co-operation on both sides in the other House it would be possible to have the Social Welfare Bill with us tomorrow. I was merely throwing out the hint to those on the far side who would have greater influence with the Opposition in the Dáil than I. If they can use their influence it might assist us.
When will we know if we are sitting on Friday? If this is to be decided at 10 o'clock tonight when the Wildlife Bill is concluded here, some people might not be here.
We will take a decision when we finish today's business. If we have a firm intimation earlier, naturally we will let Senator W. Ryan know. If we get the Social Welfare Bill from the Dáil today we will sit tomorrow. If we do not, we will sit on Friday.
This is typical Government policy, living today and not thinking of tomorrow.
I do not think the Leader of the House took into account what I have said. Many of us have commitments on Friday. It is not fair to expect us to go home and come back up on Friday morning. Could we not leave the Bill over until Tuesday, and do our three-day stint next week? This is very unfair and ridiculous, to say the least of it.
Senator Killilea will appreciate that it is not so long since we were told that we were ridiculous because we were not sitting more often. Now we are told we are ridiculous because we are sitting too much.
No.
The Chair cannot allow this to develop into a debate, particularly a disorderly debate.
I wanted to know if the Leader of the House could facilitate us by saying that, if we cannot get the Social Welfare Bill tomorrow, we will have it on Tuesday. That is all we ask.
That matter would be more appropriately discussed outside the House.
He should bear in mind that it is not just Fianna Fáil Senators he would be facilitating; the vast majority of the people sitting behind him in their hearts agree with us.
I am conscious of the fact that it does not facilitate me to sit on Friday, but we have to.
What is the urgency? Do we have to take the Bill on Friday?
Senators should address their remarks to their own party in the other House.
The proposal is "That the Order of Business——"
The Chair is endeavouring to put a question to the House.
Senator Halligan would agree that everything he does is perfect.
Stop trying to block business.
And let you off the hook.
If Senators do not respect one another, they should respect the Chair who is endeavouring to put the question.