It is proposed to take Items Nos. 1, 2 and 3. Item No. 1 is the ordering of Second Stage of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Bill, 1988, and it is intended to take Second Stage of that Bill next week. Item No. 2 will be taken, I suggest, from now to 6.30 p.m., but if at 6.30 p.m. there are still a number of speakers offering, we could go to 7 p.m., by agreement with the remaining offering speakers with the proviso that they would cut their contributions to a reasonable length so as to allow as many Senators as possible to speak. Item No. 3 will be taken from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Order of Business.
I would just like to thank the Leader of the House for the very accommodating way he has ordered the business for today and for tomorrow and for the rest of the session up to Christmas.
In the format which the Leader of the House has outlined, do I take it that the debate on Item No. 2 will conclude at 7 o'clock or earlier?
While recognising that the obligations of the Leader of the House is to speak only about today's business, nonetheless we would be glad to have some indication of how he sees the picture shaping up to Christmas. In particular, may I ask him if it is proposed to take next week Item No. 5, the resumption of the European Community motion?
The latest time for concluding Item No. 2 will be 7 o'clock. I would suggest that in the interests of those who want to get involved, if we allow the leaders a maximum of 30 minutes and the other speakers a maximum of 20 minutes, we will get a reasonable number of speakers in on this motion. As far as Item No. 5 is concerned, I will get in touch with Senator Murphy. It may be possible that we will be able to continue that motion next week. We will be sitting two days next week. The Courts Bill will be taken on Wednesday and the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Bill will be taken on Thursday. I cannot say at this stage when we will take the Appropriation Bill, whether it will be Thursday or Friday of next week.
Order of Business agreed to.