It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4. I suggest that the House suspend the sitting from 12.30 p.m. to 2 p.m. and on resuming take No. 3 followed by No. 4. The intention on No. 4 is that the Minister will make the opening speech on this Bill and that there will be a response from the Opposition side. After that we will return to the earlier business if it has not already been disposed of. It is not intended to sit beyond 4 p.m.
Order of Business.
I notice the order has changed from that which was on the Order Paper yesterday. I understood we were to take the Courts Bill at the start. It was in that sequence on yesterday's Order Paper.
I made an announcement in the course of yesterday to the effect that I had received a request from the Opposition that the Courts Bill should be taken in the afternoon rather than in the morning. It was in order to convenience that request that the Order has been changed to what it is now. It is normal to take legislation in the morning and debate reports in the afternoon. I am sorry if Senator Fitzsimons was misled.
I agree that it was at the request of a member of my Party that this change was made in the Order of Business. I want to thank the Leader of the House for having accommodated the Senator who wished to participate in the debate.
I am not critical of the Order.
Could the Leader of the House tell us when we may be taking No. 11.
The position is the same in regard to No. 8, the Air Pollution Bill and No. 11, the Control of Clinical Trials Bill. These are two very important Bills which will need substantial discussion both on Second Stage and on Committee Stage. I am very appreciative of the fact that the Government decided to introduce these Bills into the Seanad. I am somewhat perturbed that the press of other urgent legislation such as the CIE Bill, the Finance Bill which we will be receiving shortly, and the Constitutional Amendment Bill, will tend to push back these Bills. I would hope that we would have time for a substantial discussion on the Air Pollution Bill and the Clinical Trials Bill, preferably in May but certainly before the adjournment. I can say at the moment that on my tentative scheduled business I have the Air Pollution Bill listed for Wednesday, 28 May, but that may well be pushed on into June if Senators continue to do their work with the thoroughness they have been displaying in recent weeks.
Order of Business agreed to.