Firstly, in regard to the Social Welfare Bill, I want to say that I agree thoroughly with what Senator Willie Ryan, Senator Lanigan and Senator Killilea said about this Bill. It is unfair to this House that the Bill should be passed to us so late in the session. I might say that is not in my control nor, in fact, in this instance is it a matter for decision by the Government Chief Whip. I understand that the discussions which took place between the Whips in another place resulted in delaying the completion of Second Stage and the holding of Committee Stage, and that the agreement reached in another place was that the Bill will be concluded this evening without any question of a guillotine motion.
Neither, when the Bill does arrive here and is considered by the Seanad, would I suggest a guillotine motion in regard to the Bill. My first proposal is that the House should meet tomorrow and take the Social Welfare Bill as soon as it is available. My further suggestion that the House might if necessary sit late to conclude the Bill, was one made after consultation with other groups in the House. If other groups in the House wish to discuss the Social Welfare Bill on Friday, or next Tuesday, or Wednesday, this matter can certainly be discussed. There will be no attempt to close down the discussion on the Bill.
As regards the question raised by Senator Brendan Ryan on amendments to the Social Welfare Bill, when Second Stage of that Bill is concluded we would convenience the Senator and any other Senators who wished to put down amendments for Committee Stage. We could, if the other Bills were available, proceed to discuss the other Bills and leave Committee Stage of the Social Welfare Bill until afterwards, to give any Senator due time to consider the framing of amendments after the conclusion of Second Stage. We would certainly be prepared to facilitate any Senator in that regard.
As regards the question by Senator Robinson concerning the matter of the committees, and in particular the EEC Committee and the Committee on Marital Breakdown, I have been urging the various people responsible to move in regard to these committees. The expediency motion is on the Dáil Order Paper in regard to the EEC motion. It was only this morning that I was again pressing that this should be taken in the Dáil at an early date.
In regard to the Committee on Marital Breakdown, I agree with the Senator that it is highly desirable from a number of points of view that this committee should be set up straight away. Again this morning I was making further representations and was talking to the appropriate Minister, Deputy Nuala Fennell, just over an hour ago on this matter. She is as anxious about it, indeed probably more anxious than I am. Certainly we share anxiety in regard to this. It is not for want of pushing, it is for want of reaction that nothing has happened.
