It is proposed to order Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and to take them in that order. As on the last occasion, both Nos. 1 and 2 will be debated together. I propose that the sitting be suspended from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and that the House should adjourn at 5 p.m. In the interests of a good debate if any item ordered concludes later than 4 p.m. I propose that the new business not be taken at that late hour.
Order of Business.
Could I ask a question about item No. 24? Senator Dooge gave an undertaking, and I am sure he followed it up that he would find out what the Department of Justice were doing in the light of the Law Reform Commission's report on vagrancy. I do not want the Leader of the House to tell me off the top of his head now what happened but perhaps he could repeat his inquiries and find out what they propose to do on the issue.
I want to inquire from the Cathaoirleach and from the Leader of the House how long more we are going to be enclosed in this contraption? I want to know what progress is like upstairs. I suggest to the Cathaoirleach and the Leader of the House that it is about time we had a committee of the House to supervise what activity is going on above us.
The Committee on Procedure and Privileges are the most appropriate authority on this. We did not discuss when the work would be completed. We have word from the Office of Public Works that it will be done in a 12 month period.
It has an alarming appearance of permanency about it. I suggest that we should have a weekly progress report from the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
I am afraid the structure the Senator is referring to was put up at our own request to conceal what was going on above us but, as the Senator says, it is time somebody asked what is going on.
Would I be in order in suggesting that we might have a weekly report from the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on the progress?
The Senator is not in order. That would be totally impractical.
In regard to the query from Senator B. Ryan I continually inquire from the Departments responsible in regard to the progress in the formation of their views in regard to Private Members' Bills and will continue to do so. In regard to the question of the permanency or otherwise, every Member of this House would be happy if there were a permanency about his seat in the House, whatever about the surroundings of that seat. I agree with Senator Howard that it is a matter on which we should receive progress reports, not weekly but from time to time.
Order of Business agreed to.