We will take item No. 1 today to 6 p.m. I have not had an opportunity to discuss this, but I am asking the House, in view of other issues that will have to be dealt with tomorrow, to take all Stages of the Land Commission (Dissolution) Bill this evening. We will go then on to item No. 18, Motion 48, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. We will deal with the Altamont Bill tomorrow. We will also deal with the changes in the Electoral Bill. They are reducing the cost of standing for election and so on. We will then deal with the European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 1992. I am hoping that, by agreement of the House, we will deal with those three Bills tomorrow between 10.30 a.m. and 2 p.m. and then we will go on to statements on Aer Lingus from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The alternative to that is to come back tomorrow night or Friday.
Order of Business.
Clearly, the Leader of the House has confirmed that dies irae is upon us and, of course, we will be happy to co-operate with him in finishing whatever business needs to be completed. The proposals as he has outlined are totally acceptable to us.
On tomorrow afternoon we will have the onerous duty of being the only House of the Oireachtas functioning. Will the Leader of the House indicate if he intends that the House will sit during the interregnum of the other House? I ask that the nomination day for the Dáil election coincides with the nomination day for the Seanad election so that candidates show a true commitment to one House or the other.
It is a genuine question.
I accept it is a genuine question but it is not appropriate to the Order of Business for today.
You will recognise, Sir, it is with the best interests of the House at heart that I believe people should commit themselves to one House or the other.
The Senator has made his point but it is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
We certainly do not object to the Leader's request to get all Stages of the Land Commission Bill through this afternoon but we are not too sure that Members on the Government's side will not have speeches to make in support of land holdings in the west of Ireland and places like that. We would like the Leader to indicate tomorrow's programme. We would also like to know how it is intended to deal with the Altamont Bill.
In relation to Senator O'Toole's request all I can say is that hope springs eternal in the human breast. May I ask the Leader if the Milk (Regulation of Supply) (No. 2) Bill has finally turned irreversibly sour and can it be used? It seems particularly appropriate that a dissolution Bill is the first item this afternoon. I am pleased the Electoral (No. 2) Bill is coming back to the House and that we will not have as much at stake when we put our names on the ballot papers for the other House. I am also pleased that the Altamont Bill will finally make its long and weary passage to conclusion in the life of this Seanad.
I would like you to allow me to propose a vote of congratulation to Bill Clinton on his magnificent showing——
That would not be appropriate for a Member; it is for somebody else——
He is a formidable musician like myself.
He played the saxophone better than you did.
I cannot help saying that I am astonished to hear congratulations at the defeat of George Bush, given the enthusiasm with which his success in the Gulf was greeted by Members on that side less than 18 months ago. They seem to have forgotten their loyalties very quickly——
Senator Ryan, have you a query for the Leader of the House?
I have. I want to ask the Leader if it is the intention of the Government that the Electoral Bill will be in force for any elections that are held within the next four weeks?
I wish to thank Senator Manning and the leaders of the Opposition for agreeing to the change in the Order of Business for today and tomorrow.
With regards to Senator O'Toole's query as to whether we will sit during the election closure of the Dáil, I would not want to be accused of taking advantage of either my collegues on my side or of the Opposition during the election, so we will review that after the election. I assure Senator Upton and Senator Doyle that should I receive any information on the Milk (Regulation of Supply) (No. 2) Bill I will communicate with them——
Finally, in reply to Senator Ryan, my understanding is yes, the changes under the Electoral (No. 2) Bill will be in operation should we need them within the next four weeks.