It is proposed to take No. 1 only and it is proposed to break from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch.
Order of Business.
Do I understand that it is not proposed to break for tea?
It is not proposed to break for tea.
I should like to express some astonishment at this.
We shall note the Senator's astonishment.
I propose to speak on this. This is an important Bill. There has been no effort made to filibuster it, but there is a considerable number of important matters in regard to it that have to be discussed and I propose to discuss them, as do the rest of us. Indeed Senator Alexis FitzGerald may have remarks to make on sections of the Bill.
I suggest that in the circumstances it is outrageous and completely without precedent in this House to have a procedure of this kind. The Minister himself is involved, and I suggest that where the Minister and relatively few Senators are involved in dealing with a Bill of this kind, to sit non-stop in this kind of way has never been done previously in this House, or as least I have never known it to have been done. I have not heard of it having been done in the other House; if it has been it was relatively rare. If it has been done, it would seem to me to be justified only in a case where there is an obvious attempt to filibuster a measure. In the circumstances this is unjustifiable, and all I can say about it is that if the Leader of the House wishes to delay this Bill it is a very easy Bill to delay. Certainly none of us on this side of the House has the slightest intention of delaying it or drawing it out beyond what is justified to discuss the Bill properly, but as I say, if the Leader of the House wishes the Bill to be delayed, it is very easy to accomplish.
Senator O'Higgins to conclude the discussion.
We are now into 6th August. This House has had 54 sittings this year. The number of hours which this House has sat this year is record-breaking in every sense. It has sat more frequently and for longer hours than any Seanad since the establishment of the State.
Heartbreaking.
The Minister for Finance has had an extremely arduous, physically arduous parliamentary session both in the Dáil and the Seanad, and while no one is inviting any Member of the Seanad to skimp discussion, it seems to me that ordinary reason, consideration for Senators and for the Minister, dictates that we should try to finish the business of the Seanad, if possible, this week. I hope that may be achieved. I am in no way affected by threats from Senator Yeats on this or any other Bill. I have no intention of imposing any hardship on Senators and still less on the Minister, but I want to see progress being made. I want to try to clear this Bill during the present week. If it is possible to achieve that, I have no desire to impose any hardship on the Minister or Senators opposite.
I have suggested that we do not break for tea, but in view of Senator Yeats's plea, I am prepared to leave the position that we have a look at the progress we have made coming on to, say, about 5.30 when we see what the situation is. If the progress made on the Bill seems to warrant breaking for tea, certainly I have no objection to it being done.
I suggest we have a look at the situation at 2 o'clock, when we resume. That is the best thing to do at this stage.
It might be better to look at it about 4.30 or 5 o'clock.
I would appeal to the Leader of the House to let us decide at 2 o'clock. In fairness to Senator Yeats, he is very interested in this Bill and he cannot——
I have no objection to looking at it at 2 o'clock but I suggest we do not take a decision then unless the position is quite clear.
These matters can be discussed outside the House in the course of the day.