Would the acting Leader of the House indicate to me, what the position now is. I presume the Minister will take about half-an-hour and we decided this morning on the Order of Business to finish at 5 o'clock. I am saying this now because I do not want to interrupt the Minister in the middle of his reply. Would Senator Howard or Senator Browne indicate what we should do?
Business of Seanad.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
The decision was, as I understood it, that we would conclude at 5 p.m. I have no more up-to-date information than that.
We, on this side of the House, would welcome finalisation of this Bill. If the Government want it to go through we will definitely co-operate.
I understand from discussions which took place and in which I took part as an Independent, that the Bill is to be completed even if it means extending the time beyond 5 p.m. That is my understanding of the views on both sides of the House — correct me, if I am wrong. I am only interpreting what I understand the view to be.
I was listening this morning to the Order of Business and it was clearly stated at that time that the House was rising at 5 p.m. and unfortunately for a person who is deeply concerned with this Bill, I made arrangements for other matters this evening in the knowledge that we would be finishing at 5 p.m. I hope we will finish at 5 p.m. If the discussion has to be continued on Tuesday morning, let it be so, I certainly based my decision on what I heard here this morning at the commencement of business. I remember quite distinctly the Leader of the House saying he also was ordering the Canals Bill in case this Bill finished. I felt, to be quite frank, that this Bill was going to finish at 3 p.m. or 3.30 p.m.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
In my position as Cathaoirleach I asked for guidance from the Government side because I did not want to interrupt the Minister in his reply. I think you will appreciate what I am trying to say. Perhaps we could suspend the sitting for five minutes if the House agrees. I feel we should hear the Leader of the House.
Take into account, please, that I did make arrangements this morning and I have amendments down to this Bill.
My office were informed that all Stages would be taken today. I was not aware of any time limit and I asked the Leader of the House this morning if that would mean going beyond the normal time but it is better that he should speak for himself.
Sitting suspended at 4.50 p.m. and resumed at 4.55 p.m.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
I shall now call on Senator Dooge, Leader of the House, to clarify the position.
I regret that there was some confusion in regard to the Order of Business. I made what I thought was a clear statement at the time to the effect that we would take Nos. 1 and 2, the Local Government (Reorganisation) Bill and the Canals Bill on Report and complete them both. The Minister concerned was aware of this arrangement and the intention was, as I have said, to complete the business today.
I want to say very briefly that our understanding was that the sitting would finish at 5 p.m. and we were quite willing to co-operate with the Government to that end. We could have had many more speakers on this Bill.
I am certainly thankful for the co-operation extended by the House and I am sorry that there should have been any misunderstanding.
The only thing is that in the belief that business would finish at 5 p.m. I had made arrangements outside the House for that time.
I would like to say that I made what I thought at the time was a clear statement of our intentions and I regret any confusion that has arisen. I believe that the Minister in his reply on the local government Bill will not be over-expansive and after that, I do not think the Canals Bill will take very long. I, therefore, suggest that we now move on and hear the Minister's reply.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
I now call on the Minister to reply.