It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 2 and 3 today. I might mention that No. 2 is a resolution that arises out of an element which appears in the plan on page 46 and which it is necessary to pass before this provision can come into operation. Accordingly, the proposal is that Nos. 1 and 2 would be debated together — No. 2 is part of No. 1 — but there can be separate decisions at the end, when we come to it. It is proposed to take Nos. 1 and 2 together from 2.30 p.m. until 5.30 p.m. and to suspend the sitting from 5.30 p.m. until 6.30 p.m. We will then resume and conclude the debate on the Private Members' Motion on the New Ireland Forum between 6.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the latest. Then, to ensure that as many Senators as possible would be able to take part in the two-day debate on the National Plan, it is proposed to sit on after the disposal of the Private Members' Motion, No. 3, until 10 p.m. It is proposed to sit tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. and that the final speaker on the Government side on Item No. 1 would be called at 4.30 p.m. The matter would be concluded, and voted on if necessary, at 5 p.m. tomorrow.
Order of Business.
I would refer to No. 4 on the Order Paper. It had been indicated to me that it would not be appropriate that this motion would be taken this week. Would the Leader of the House indicate when it might be taken, and in so doing say whether it might be possible to extend the time for the taking of this report under the Standing Order on which it is being given Government time? The Standing Order provides that it would only have one-and-a-half hours of debate. It is, as Members of the House will see, a very substantial report and I think it would be unfair to expect a reasonable debate in one-and-a-half hours. I would ask if it would be possible to extend it to three hours, and when it might be possible to take the motion.
In regard to the matter raised by Senator Robinson, if it had not been for the matter before us, it would have been my intention to propose that this item be taken today. It will be taken on the next sitting day after this week, which it is anticipated will be on 14 November. In regard to the question of extending the time for it, this is something which should be discussed among representatives of the various groups. I am personally sympathetic to it and am hopeful that the debate could be extended from one-and-a-half hours to three hours.