It is proposed to take items Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 9, in that order, and, if necessary, to interrupt the business at 5 p.m. to take No. 9 if it has not been reached earlier. I might say for the benefit of Members that it is not proposed to meet tomorrow but it is proposed to meet next Wednesday in order to take the Bills not dealt with today.
Order of Business.
When will we reach item No. 7? This matter has been raised on two occasions. There are many very urgent matters going through the EEC at present and because we have not yet got the Joint Committee on EEC Secondary Legislation established this seems to be the only forum where we can discuss the matters which are going through the European Parliament. Unfortunately, we do not seem to be getting any nearer reaching that item which is of great importance to the House.
I should like to support Senator Lanigan in his request that we would as quickly as possible establish this Joint Committee. As a former member of that Joint Committee, I can say that not only does the difficulty refer to work piling up but there is the further problem that derives from that of finding a space in the Oireachtas schedule to discuss the reports of the committee. I wholeheartedly share the Senator's concern that we establish the committee as quickly as possible.
I should like to join Senators Lanigan and Higgins in pressing that this Joint Committee be established as quickly as possible. I am an ex-member of this Joint Committee and there is no doubt that the work to be done by it is of vital importance because this kind of secondary legislation from Europe does affect us very greatly in all aspects of our social and economic lives. It seems very much to be regretted that we have not got any mechanism to deal with it at all in the Oireachtas at the moment, whether by discussing the reports or through the Joint Committee. I suggest that item No. 7 should be taken quickly but also that we press ahead immediately to set up the Joint Committee. I feel sure that the Leader of the House agrees with me in this but perhaps he would put it across even more strongly to the Government that this is something that needs to be done as a first priority.
Will the Leader of the House tell us when item No. 14 will be taken?
In regard to item No. 7. the question of the discussion in the House of matters relating to the European Economic Community. There are two questions here. Firstly, the formation of the Joint Committee on secondary legislation, its reporting to the House and a debate in the House on its report. Secondly, the discussion of the two six-monthly reports submitted to the House by the Government which have not yet been debated in the House. In regard to the first item, the House has done all it can do. The expediency motion has been passed here and until we have a motion passed in another place carrying the stage a step further we will not act. As soon as this returns to us from that other place we will establish this Joint Committee. I might say that it is not in this House that there have been delays in regard to the establishment of the Joint Committee and it is not due to any action or inaction on the part of the Government. The delays in establishing the committee system have come from elsewhere.
In regard to the question of debating item No. 7, I am delighted that this should have come up. The Leader of the House is usually criticised because he is, in fact, giving preference to Government business over Private Members' business. The reason that No. 7 is not being discussed today is because my proposal for business today gives preference to Private Members' business. I proposed that we take item No. 9. There has not yet been in this session of the Seanad a motion in Private Members' time moved on behalf of the Independent group. We are now proposing to do that today. It is a matter for the House and, if the House wishes this motion to be put down in place of Private Members' business next Wednesday, I will endeavour to see if either the Minister, or the Minister of State, will be available to attend.
In regard to item No. 14, I have been asked when will this be taken. I have to give the answer in regard to this that I gave before in regard to similar requests for information. It will be taken, firstly, when the turn of the Fianna Fáil group in the Seanad comes in Private Members' time and when the Fianna Fáil group in the Seanad decide that this is their priority motion.
Order of Business agreed to.