As the House will be aware the Select Committee on Legislation and Security of Dáil Éireann (Privilege and Immunity) Bill, 1994, is still in the Dáil. I understand the Bill will be completed by 6.30 p.m. and that it will take three hours for the Bill to be brought to this House. I suggest that we adjourn until 10 p.m. when we will deal with it. I suggest that we take all Stages of the Bill tonight and that there be 15 minutes per spokesperson and ten minutes per speaker thereafter.
Order of Business.
In the spirit of co-operation which has always characterised relations in the Seanad and in view of the fact that Mr. de Valera, when drawing up his Constitution, never intended it to be an obstructive force in Irish politics——
I have not heard you say that before.
I have been doing some research today. I have no difficulty with those arrangements. It is important that this Bill is dealt with speedily, but with care. My group is prepared to sit all night if necessary to complete this Bill on time.
One is reluctant to intrude a note of disruption given the outbreak of peace all round. I accept what the Leader has said and we are anxious to accommodate him. However, it is not very satisfactory. There is an almost indecent haste in bringing the legislation to the House and it is evident from listening to Committee Stage in the Dáil this afternoon just how complex the issues are and how much potential there is for trouble. Experience has taught us that when we rush Bills through the House, we tend to create problems further on. It is a pity that the haste which is evident in the Bill is not evident in the formation of the Government. That is perhaps where the focus of haste should be.
That is not on the Order Paper.
Having said that, I realise the difficulties at the moment and the restrictions under which the Leader is operating. From that point of view, albeit reluctantly, I am prepared to agree to what he has proposed.
The accord between the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition reminds me of the story that the East German pole vault champion will become the West German pole vault champion by Friday.
So long as he clears the bar.
The bar was never a problem.
Now that the teams have been sorted out, the bar will be cleared.
I was a sprinter myself.
In relation to the Order of Business, I believe the strictures of Senator Dardis are unwarranted in one way. I am happy to see the dawn break over Leinster House if it means passing the Bill this evening. I do not think it will be rushed.
In accepting the Leader's suggested Order of Business we have to be very careful. When I came into this House I spoke about the need for speed and brevity. However, I did not mean this sort of speed. Brevity is not at the top of my agenda having listened to and watched the proceedings in the other Chamber today. It seems that this legislation is much more complex than was originally envisaged.
It scares and worries me when we take Bills at such a speed that we do not get a chance to examine them in detail. I am concerned about it. I have spoken on this issue before — I accept that this is the first time we have had such an instance — but it seems that on this occasion, there is a great need for speed. In undertaking to pass all Stages tonight we should do so with care, attention and with the interests of the citizens at heart and make sure that we do not pass something which infringes on their rights which have been so carefully protected in our Constitution.
I wish to make it clear that there will not be a guillotine tonight. Senator Magner has put down a marker that he has no problem with sitting until dawn, so I am assuring him that there will not be guillotine. This House has not been the cause of the problem which we face tonight; I am responding to a situation in the current political arena. I assure Senator Manning that I have taken careful note of his comments about non-obstructive Opposition.
Can I take it that the Order of Business is agreed? Rather than have a repeat of the Order of Business, may I suggest that we move straight to Second Stage of the Bill at 10 p.m. Is that agreed? Agreed.
What if the Bill is not finished in the Dáil?
We will address that matter if it arises.
Order of Business agreed to.
Sitting suspended at 5.30 p.m. and resumed at 10 p.m.
The Supplementary Order Paper has been circulated to all Senators. I ask the Leader to include the Motion for Earlier Signature in the Order of Business.
I propose that we include the Motion for Earlier Signature in the Order of Business.
Is that agreed? Agreed.