When is it proposed to sit again?
Business of Seanad.
It is proposed to sit at 12.30 p.m. on 4 October.
Could I ask if the Leader of the House would reconsider that? I have a very specific reason for asking. The reason is that I raised several times on the Order of Business yesterday, as you know, the question of the ending of the tax amnesty. This was regarded as not being a matter of sufficient urgency, I think, as to warrant the debate I looked for under Standing Order 29. As it was regarded by ourselves this morning as being an appropriate matter for discussion on the Adjournment. I then sought to raise it on the Adjournment. Since the amnesty ends before 4 October it will not be possible to have this discussed at all. I would very much welcome the possibility that Seanad Éireann could discuss this matter which is an item of consuming public interest at the moment and in which there is clear ministerial responsibility.
While I accept the way that the Government side are ordering business because there is no legislation for us to deal with next week, I would be happier if we were meeting next week and if there was legislation. I gather from the Leader of the House that at the next meeting he will be able to indicate to us the programme of work for the remainder of this session and given that that is the case we will not be opposing this motion.
I will not be able to give an indication as to what business we will have to the end of the session but we will have a meeting and we will have a programme of work arranged.
On the question of the tax amnesty, let me, as a business person congratulate the Minister for Finance on the best initiative that was ever taken on the tax regimes in this country. A date was set for 30 September. I can understand that there are people still in business who had difficulties in arranging their finances to accommodate themselves to this tax amnesty. Nevertheless, the Government did give an indication nearly 12 months ago that 30 September — the two dates were the end of April and 30 September — was the final date.
While I can understand coming up towards the end of the amnesty date that there are still people who have worries about it, I think the Minister for Finance should be congratulated on allowing quite a large number of companies to stay in business because of the amnesty and, equally, allowing a large number of individuals who had fallen behind in their taxes to be accommodated without penalty in terms of interest. Rather than asking for further exemptions we should accept the fact that 30 September is the final date for this amnesty, and the Minister should be congratulated for bringing in this initiative.
The question is: "That the House do now adjourn until 12.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 4 October 1988."
Question put.
Vótáil.
The question is: "That the House do now adjourn until 12.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 4 October 1988". On that question a division has been challenged. Will those Senators calling for a division please rise in their places?
Senators Norris, O'Shea and Ross stood.
As fewer than five Senators rose I declare the question carried. The names of the Senators dissenting will be recorded in the Journal of the Proceedings of the Seanad.
Question declared carried.