It is proposed that between today and tomorrow we should deal with items 1 to 7 on the Order Paper and accordingly I suggest that we order all seven of them today, although it is unlikely that they would all be covered today. I would suggest that in regard to items 1, 2 and 3, which are Bills that may give rise to amendments, every effort be made to cover these items today and that, if necessary, we should sit later than 8 p.m. but not later than 10 p.m. in order to conclude items Nos. 1, 2 and 3.
Order of Business.
I agree that we should order the first seven items, but do I understand that the Leader of the House wants us to complete Second Stage and Committee Stage of both Bills today? I do not think it would be possible to go on to Committee Stage of the three Bills and I do not think it would be desirable to do so. I cannot guarantee how long Second Stage of the Funds of Suitors Bill will take. If it is to take a reasonable length of time I cannot see how Committee Stage could be taken today. Again I do not think it would be desirable to take it today because then we would have what I hope would not be an attempt to rush through the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill which is very important, and the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (Amendment) Bill.
I wish to draw attention to item No. 17 in the name of Senator Robb and myself and to ask whether there is any prospect of this being taken in Private Members' Time soon. It seems ludicrous that the Forum Report should have been fully discussed in the House of Commons and discussed in the Northern Ireland Assembly, however unproductively, and we ourselves in our own Parliament have not been given an opportunity to discuss it. I ask the Leader of the House to indicate whether he will give Government time as opposed to Independent Members' time to discuss this very important matter.
First of all, in regard to the query from Senator Lanigan about the question of items Nos. 1, 2 and 3, I might say that the suggestion to sit late arose during a discussion between myself and the Opposition Whip and we thought that we should get as much as possible done today. I have an indication that there might be amendments on the Funds of Suitors Bill. I have no indication of amendments in regard to the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill or the Landlord and Tenant (Grounds Rents) (Amendment) Bill. What I would have proposed was that on completion of Second Stage of the Funds of Suitors Bill we should go on to deal with the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill and the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (Amendment) Bill and afterwards if it has not been reached by, say, 9 p.m. we might be able to consider Committee Stage of the Funds of Suitors Bill. Of course, our decision in regard to when Committee Stage of item No. 1 will be taken will arise only at the end of Second Stage and we will be in a better position when that occurs to know what time is available.
In regard to item No. 17, I take it that Senator Catherine McGuinness, who is the representative of the Independent group on the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, is speaking for that group when she urges that item No. 17 be taken. It is not customary to take Private Members' Business during the last few weeks of the sittings, but I can assure the Senator that this motion could be taken, if it is still the wish of the Independent group, on 12 and 19 September next.
I agree that we should wait until the end of Second Stage and then decide when we will take Committee Stage of the Funds of Suitors Bill. I am quite certain at this stage that there will be amendments to the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill. I presume that if we are to sit until 10 p.m. there is no need to break between 5.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. I think the House would prefer that we go through and deal with as much business as possible. I do not think it will be any problem to go right through without a break.
This is a good suggestion, that we sit through and see where we are when we have finished Second Stages of items 1, 2 and 3.
Order of Business agreed to.