It is proposed to order Nos. 1 and 2. It is proposed that we should sit until all Stages of No. 1 are completed, even if that means sitting beyond 5 p.m. On the other hand, if all Stages of No. 1 are completed before 5 p.m. it is intended to commence No. 2 and to discuss it until 5 p.m.
Order of Business.
I fully understand the urgency of the Finance Bill being passed and getting through the Seanad. I would like to ask the Leader of the House about three items specifically which are on the Order Paper. One is item No. 5 which is The National Archives Bill. I understand that the Seanad is waiting for the Taoiseach to be available for that. Possibly the Leader of the House could give us some indication of when the Taoiseach will be available. We took this Bill earlier and the Taoiseach was in America. The Taoiseach is now back. Perhaps we could get some indication of when we are going to be able to take it, because it is an important Bill.
The second item which I would like to draw to the attention of the House is item No. 14 which is the Criminal Justice (Abolition of Death Penalty) Bill, 1984 which has been on the Order Paper for some time. In the light of the fact that the Minister for Justice at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis over the weekend, expressed his determination to abolish the death penalty, perhaps the Leader of the House could give us some indication when this Bill will be debated or when the Government will introduce their own Bill.
The third item is item No. 8, which also has been slipped in but is a very important item, the debate on the Committee on Marital Breakdown which is in the name of the Leader of the House and the Deputy Leader of the House. Perhaps again, we could have an indication from the Government when this motion which they put down is going to be debated in the Seanad. It is a very important item. I do not want to see No. 8 on the Order Paper for a year or two years or three years, I want to see it debated in this House and not delayed. Could we have an indication of when these three items are going to be debated? I am prepared, as well as many other Members of the House, to sit on Fridays and on Mondays and Tuesdays to debate these things. I do not think it is enough for the Government to say that there is not parliamentary time for it. The House is ready to debate important matters of this sort.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
I think you have made your point quite clear.
I just want to reply to the tone of the last remark of Senator Ross. Senator Ross says he is prepared to sit on Tuesdays and Fridays. If Senator Ross set us an example of sitting here more often on Wednesdays and Thursdays we might be prepared to listen to him. Senator Ross's attendance in this House does not match the attendance of the members of the political parties who have been elected to the House.
In regard to the specific queries that have been made, it is proposed to take the Archives Bill on 29 May. I would also like to correct a remark: it was illness that prevented the Taoiseach from being here to introduce the Bill. The Taoiseach is anxious to conclude this debate. Senators will realise that he has a busy programme and he has set aside 29 May to come in here to discuss this Bill.
In regard to No. 14, it is correct to say that there has been a statement by the Minister for Justice. Legislation is being prepared at the moment and legislation will be introduced as soon as possible in regard to this matter. This is a Private Member's Bill; it has been discussed already in Private Members' Time. Only last week I discussed with Senator Catherine McGuinness, who is the representative of the Independent group on the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, the question of when this matter should be taken. There will not be any undue delay.
In regard to item No. 8, the discussion of the report of the Joint Committee on Marriage Breakdown, this has not been "slipped" on to the Order Paper. A Government motion has been put down. It has been put down in the form of a Government motion to ensure that there will be unrestricted debate on this topic when we come to discuss it. There will be no limitation on the time of speeches or on the total time of the debate. I anticipate that would be taken some time during June. I cannot be more specific in that regard.
I assume Senators would wish to rise between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. as is customary.
Order of Business agreed to.