It is proposed to take No. 1 and, if No. 1 is completed today, to take No. 2. The position in regard to the Finance Bill is that this Bill must be promulgated by 9 June. While it would be possible for us to leave Committee Stage until as late as next Tuesday it would in fact curtail very seriously the time necessary for the preparation of the formal copy of the Bill and its consideration by the President, so I express the hope that the House will be able to deal with all Stages of the Bill this week.
While it might be expected that the Seanad is becoming accustomed to the fact that the Finance Bill is sent to it with very little time for consideration, I do not think that is any reason why we should accept that position without making our views known. We have very little time this year though we have more time than we have had in some years in the past. Nevertheless it is an unsatisfactory position. The Constitution limits the period of consideration of this Bill to 21 days. That is no reason why the 21 days should be shortened to seven. I thought it right that on behalf of all Members of this House I should indicate the fact that this recurrent event of the Finance Bill coming to us at a very late stage is an irritant which we would like to see removed.