It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 2 and 3 today. It is proposed to devote the morning to No. 1 and to take a break for lunch at whatever is the most convenient time around 12.30 and 1 p.m. If a Member contributing to the debate finishes some time between 12.30 and 1 p.m. it might be a good time to break. I indicated to the Seanad yesterday that there is a necessity to have the Electoral Bill and the regulations under it made before the Houses rise. I suggest that we start at 2 o'clock with No. 2 and if that does not carry us to 5 o'clock that we go on to No. 3. The House should, in any event, adjourn at 5 p.m. Perhaps I should indicate to Senators that because of the statutory meetings of county councils on Thursday next it is proposed that we should sit next week at 2.30 on Tuesday and then sit on Wednesday until 5 p.m.
Order of Business.
A couple of items on the Order of Business — I refer particularly to item No. 9 and item No. 20. Item 9 is the Homeless Persons Bill. I would like the Leader of the House, in the light of an experience that somebody had recently, to inquire about the progress of the Governments Bill because a charity I know had the ludicrous experience last week of being contacted by a member of the Government to know if they could make provision for a homeless person who had come into the Government member's clinic. It appeared to me that the Government member in question was not aware either of the existence of legislation or proposed legislation before the Seanad or, indeed, of a Government commitment to introduce their own legislation. Perhaps we can have either my Bill discussed and indeed passed and brought into law, or else the long promised and long delayed Government legislation. Could the Leader of the House find out or let me know if there has been much progress?
The second point deals with the Vagrancy (Repeal) Bill. Given that the Law Reform Commission have now removed the last excuse that the Government had for doing nothing about the question of vagrancy, will the Leader of the House allow time before the summer recess to have that Bill, which basically incorporates a number of the proposals of the Law Reform Commission, discussed? I think they showed considerable compassion and foresight in their proposals — that is largely because they agreed with me. They did, and it is something that could be dealt with quickly and speedily. Will the Government either introduce their own Bill or will they take my Bill before the summer because it is not something that should take another two years to be discussed?
I certainly will make inquiries in regard to both these items. I think, indeed, now that we have the report of the Law Reform Commission on the vagrancy question, together with the Government statement on it, it certainly would be appropriate to have a debate of some type before we adjourn and I will find out what the position is in regard to legislation on both these matters.