Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Jul 1985

Vol. 108 No. 16

Order of Business.

Professor Dooge

Before proposing the Order of Business, I trust you will permit me on behalf of this House to welcome you back to the seat you are now occupying, not that we have not been well served by the Leas-Chathaoirleach in your absence, but we are glad to have you with us again and to see you looking so well after your recent illness.

It is proposed to order today Nos. 1 and 2. Needless to say, it would be the wish of the Government side of the House — myself in particular — that No. I would be disposed of as soon as possible but I understand that the Opposition feel there should be a separate Committee Stage next week. During the day we can see how the debate develops and we can have discussions as to whether we should break from 12.30 p.m. to 1.30 p.m. or not, depending on the progress of the debate. It is proposed to sit next week on Wednesday and Thursday.

Mr. W. Ryan

First of all, I would like to join with the Leader of the House in saying how pleased we are to see the Cathaoirleach back with us again and we are glad that he is fully recovered from his recent illness. As the Leader of the House said, of course we were well looked after during his time away by the Leas-Chathaoirleach.

Regarding the Order of Business, the Cathaoirleach said that the motion on the Adjournment will be taken at 4.30 p.m. or earlier. Certainly, it will not be taken earlier but it may not be taken by 4.30 p.m. The Leader of the House said that as far as the Government side are concerned they are anxious to get the Farm Tax Bill finished with as soon as possible. I understand that but, at the same time, we on this side of the House may have a number of speakers who may wish to go beyond 4.30 p.m. this evening. We would like to finish the Second Stage today, if at all possible, in order to take Committee Stage next week. We would certainly not agree at all to take all Stages the one day. If there are speakers from this side of the House wishing to speak around 4.30 p.m. it would not be fair to exclude them, because this is a very important Bill, and in order to make full use of today I feel we should not adjourn for lunch. We should try to get through as much as possible of the Bill.

Mr. Ferris

First of all, I want to join with the Leader of the House and the acting leader of the Fianna Fáil group in welcoming the Cathaoirleach back to the Chair after a long illness. It is good to see him there again. We have been served well by the Leas-Chathaoirleach but it is good to see the Cathaoirleach in the Chair where he rightly belongs, and I am glad to see him looking so well. The last time we were together things were tough as well, and since that time the Cathaoirleach has had his long illness. I am glad also that his personal representative in the local elections stood in for him so well. Obviously, the family tradition is continuing in the constituency and I congratulated him through yourself.

Regarding Senator Ryan's comments about the Farm Tax Bill, do I take it from what the Leader of the House has said that, even if Second Stage is not finished today or that there are other speakers offering, we will still adjourn the House at 4.30 p.m. to allow the motion on the Adjournment to be taken and that we will continue Second Stage next week? Quite a number of speakers from all sides of the House want to know whether we are likely to go into Second Stage next week and, if so, is it envisaged that we would be able to finish the business of the House in two days next week?

I take it also that if item No. 2 is not completed there would be no objection to carrying on the debate on that after the summer recess, because I understand many people have an interest in that motion and want an opportunity to speak on it. Certainly, it would be a pity if the debate fell just before the recess for the want of speakers when, in fact, after the recess many Senators would want to speak on it. That was one of the reasons it was taken in this format at all — to allow every Member to speak on it — but, so far, there has been relatively little interest in it. However, I would like to think that that will continue after the recess to allow a full discussion on it.

In regard to the Farm Tax Bill, does the Leader of the House envisage our sitting late tonight to get through Second Stage?

Mr. B. Ryan

Very briefly, just to associated myself with the other Members' remarks welcoming the Cathaoirleach back. I am delighted to see the Cathaoirleach back. As everybody has said, he had a very able deputy in his absence but, nevertheless, it is very gratifying to see him back and looking so well and I wish him good health for the remainder of his period as Cathaoirleach.

Professor Dooge

In regard to the Second Stage of the Farm Tax Bill, I accept what Senator Willie Ryan has said that it probably would be advisable to decide now that we will not adjourn from 12.30 p.m. to 1.30 p.m. This is desirable and, certainly, I would not like to do or say anything that would indicate that I want to restrict the debate in any way in regard to the Second Stage and the Committee Stage of the Farm Tax Bill. If we were to leave the question of the Adjournment this evening open-ended, we might well find ourselves in the position either that Senators who still wished to speak after 4.30 p.m. felt precluded from doing so in order not to prolong the sitting unduly or, indeed, might feel that they could not express themselves at the length which they might otherwise have thought appropriate. I suggest that the better thing to do is to say that we make the best use of the time between now and 4.30 p.m. I do not see any great difficulty if the Second Stage of the Farm Tax Bill goes over to next week. It is unlikely that anything said on Second Stage will give rise to amendments that have not already been formulated or thought of. Therefore, it would be sufficient, if Second Stage was carried over to next week, if there was an interval of an hour or two between Second Stage and Committee Stage. I am proposing that we sit continuously between now and 4.30 p.m. If by that stage we have concluded the Second Stage of the Farm Tax Bill we can take up the debate on No. 2. If not, I suggest we should resume it on next Wednesday, 17 July 1985.

An Cathaoirleach

I would like to thank the Senators for their very kind remarks. Naturally, I am delighted to be back. I am in reasonably good health. Certainly, the heavy weight while I was absent fell on Senator Honan, the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking her.

Order of Business agreed to.