We did not clear the question of whether we were breaking for lunch or carrying through.
Business of Seanad.
I am in the House's hands in that matter.
I suggest we make that decision at 1.30 p.m. because it could well happen that the business we have today might be nearly concluded at that time. There would not be much point in breaking and then coming back again for another half hour.
Is that agreed? It is suggested by Senator W. Ryan that we wait until 1.30 p.m. and then let the Leader of the House come in and see what the situation is. As Senator Ryan said, if we conclude the business by 1.30 p.m. there is not much point in breaking for lunch and coming back for perhaps half an hour. That is sensible thinking.
Is it 1 p.m. or 1.30 p.m. that is the usual time for adjournment for lunch?
1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Then we will make a decision at 1 p.m.
We have a difficulty about the Minister for No. 6, but we have a Minister to take No. 1. Would the House be agreeable to take No. 1 now and then we will take No. 6?
No. 1 could last all day.
I agree, but the Minister is held up for some reason. We have another Minister here and it is a pity that we cannot go on with the business.
I am prepared to allow the Minister to speak and I am the spokesman on this side of the House today on the CAP. I know how Ministers can be disrupted from appointments by rushing here and there. The Slaughtered and Detained Animals (Compensation) Bill, 1985, is a very short Bill. It is something that will last for only a very short time. No. 1 will be a long drawn out Bill and many people here will wish to speak on it. That is suitable to me.
We could start at No. 1 since the Minister is available and if the other Minister, who is dealing with No. 6, becomes available we could adjourn. Would that be agreeable?
I understand that the Minister is on his way. Then we will be able to take the two of them, one after the other.
I know this is completely out of order, but I am going to say it anyway. With regard to the tea breaks and lunch breaks and the other breaks that have been discussed yesterday and today, it is amusing to those of us who are here in the Chamber and covering the House all the time that these discussions should take place at all, because we could have gone on last night, as we did last Wednesday until 11.05 p.m. and cleared legislation. But to have these discussions about lunch breaks and tea breaks, gives the impression that all we are concerned with is meals.
I do not think that Senator Honan is out of order, but it is a matter for the Whips. There is not much I can do about it.