Before I call Item No. 2 could I have some indication of the wishes of the House? The Report Stage of the Industrial and Provident Societies Bill was fixed for 7 o'clock, so what would the House like to do?
Business of Seanad.
It would be better to rise until 7 o'clock and if the Industrial and Provident Societies Bill does not take very long, and I have reason to believe that agreement has been reached and it may not take very long, we will go back to the Report on the EEC from 7.10 p.m. until 8 o'clock.
I do not see why it is necessary to adjourn until 7 o'clock and waste 35 minutes when we may not be meeting tomorrow or next week. Why cannot we now get on with the debate on the 11th and 12th Reports and take the other business at 7 o'clock?
The reason why I suggested dealing with the Industrial and Provident Societies (Amendment) Bill was that I did not want to delay it, but I did not realise when I said that that the man who really made the request, Senator FitzGerald, has gone away in the belief that nothing will happen until 7 o'clock. He has gone to deal with other business. It would be unfair to proceed in his absence.
Acting Chairman
The choice is between adjourning the House on the one hand or on the other hand giving the floor to Senator Murphy who was in possession when Item No. 2 was adjourned. That is the issue before us.
I am not pressing the matter. I thought, in view of the fact that we would have to interrupt the debate at 7 o'clock, it might be better to wait until after that, but if the House would like to start again on the EEC Reports I have no objection. We will not be getting up at 7 o'clock.
Acting Chairman
We will proceed so.
I propose to adjourn.
Acting Chairman
The relevant Minister would not be present.
Well he can be got in a very short time and he does not have to be here anyway.
Acting Chairman
Let us go ahead on the basis that Senator Murphy, who was in possession, proceeds and that steps will be taken to have the Minister informed that between now and 7 o'clock Item No. 2 will be resumed.