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Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 Nov 1975

Vol. 83 No. 2

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take order Nos. 1 and 2. As regards No. 2, if No. 1 has not concluded by 2 p.m. it is proposed to interrupt the consideration of the Wildlife Bill in order to take No. 2 and resume No. 1 afterwards, if time permits. It is proposed to break for lunch from 12.30 p.m. until 2 p.m.

Obviously we have no objection to debating No. 1; it is already engaged in. No. 2, however, is another matter. In taking No. 2, the Tourist Traffic Bill, the four days laid down in Standing Orders is not being complied with. Standing Orders provide quite clearly that, when legislation comes to us from the other House, there ought to be a delay of four days. This delay can be dispensed with in cases of urgency. We, on this side of the House, on many occasions have shown that we are perfectly willing to co-operate in cases where there is a degree of urgency, where the legislation has to be got through. It does not seem to me, at least so far as it has been indicated, that there is any real urgency about this Bill.

The Bill appears to be designed solely for the purpose of giving additional funds to Bord Fáilte. I cannot believe that Bord Fáilte are so close to bankruptcy that they cannot wait until next week in order to get this legislation through. We are more than willing to deal with all Stages next week without any delay. There will be no attempt to hold it up. This is a Bill which we would all be prepared to agree with. Under these circumstances it is very difficult to see why there should be this rush. It is a rush which has been tending recently to take place. It is becoming almost a practice: that the moment a Bill is passed in the other House it is rushed into this House and put through without providing for these requirements as laid down by Standing Orders. I feel it is wrong and that it is contrary to good parliamentary practice. It is certainly not conducive to the proper discussion of legislation. In a case of a Bill such as this, where there cannot be that degree of urgency, it seems totally unnecessary and one feels, perhaps wrongly, that procedures of this kind are more designed to facilitate individual Ministers than to facilitate the parliamentary process. Unless the Leader of the House can give some very definite indication that there is some real urgency, urgency of a nature which requires this Bill to be dealt with now rather than next week then we will not agree to that.

I think Senator Yeats's approach to the general question of procedure is reasonable. It is one with which I sympathise. I understand that there is definite urgency with regard to this Bill and I have no doubt the Minister for Transport and Power will satisfy Senator Yeats regarding it when he opens the discussion on the Bill. It is required as a matter of urgency for the purpose of giving the necessary finance to the tourist boards.

I want to put this on general grounds, because obviously I cannot foresee contingencies that might arise with regard to legislation. Generally speaking, I think the submission which Senator Yeats made regarding business in this House is quite correct and it is one I would like to see carried out. I do not think—again I am talking generally—it is a good practice for this House to be asked to accept legislation coming immediately from the Dáil without an opportunity for the Senators to give full consideration to what might be involved, but there will be from time to time matters of urgency. It has been the practice in such cases, no matter who was on these benches or on the benches of the other side of the House, to co-operate while reserving the right, which Senator Yeats very properly does, to object if they are not satisfied that there is general urgency.

This week?

Next week is too late?

All I can say——

Does Senator Yeats wish to move an amendment?

No, on the basis of the standard procedure of the House, if the financial position of Bord Fáilte is so bad that the Bill has to be taken this week, then I will agree, but I will take the matter up with the Minister when he comes in.

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