It is proposed to take Items Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4. It is proposed to suspend the sitting from 5.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. and to take the Adjournment at 8 p.m. For the information of Senators, I confirm that the House will sit three days this week. The Finance Bill is virtually certain to pass through all stages in the Dáil today and it is proposed to commence Second Stage of the Finance Bill in this House at 12 noon tomorrow. This ought to give Senators a few hours to study the final version of the Bill since there may be amendments on Report Stage in the Dáil today. Accordingly, tomorrow we will start with the continuation of the business for today — the Transport Bill and the Courts Bill — and move at 12 noon to the Finance Bill. Then from 6.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. we will take Private Members' time to complete the Fianna Fáil motion. I understand the wish of the groups in the House is that we should then resume the Finance Bill from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in order to allow the greatest possible opportunity for discussion; then resuming at 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, to carry on with the Second Stage of the Finance Bill. If the Second Stage of the Finance Bill concludes on Thursday before 3 p.m. it is proposed to resume the debate on the Report of the Joint Committee on Development Cooperation in regard to Bilateral Aid.
As already announced, present indications are that it will be necessary for the House to meet on four days next week, meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday to allow for a two-day debate on the Committee and Report Stages of the Finance Bill, and on Thursday and Friday to allow for two 12 hour-sessions on the Second Stage of the Constitutional Amendment Bill. Assuming that those two days are fully occupied by that Second Stage, to meet on Monday the 26 May in the following week to take the Committee Stage of the Constitutional Amendment Bill. Since we are meeting on that Monday then the proper thing would be to meet Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of that week.
