Arising from this morning's Order of Business, No. 4a on the Supplementary Order Paper, the Referendum Bill – Second Stage, is scheduled to be taken now. I propose that the contributions of spokespersons shall not exceed ten minutes and those of all other Senators shall not exceed eight minutes and that Senators may share time. I ask Senators to agree to adjourn the sitting until 3.45 p.m. because I am advised that a division on the Bill is only taking place in the Dáil.
Business of Seanad.
Is that agreed?
No, it is not agreed. My information is that the Committee Stage debate on the Bill has not concluded. It will be followed by Report Stage and the debate could continue for some time. I have great sympathy for the Deputy Leader and Senator Fitzgerald because they have been placed in an impossible position. A Supplementary Order Paper, setting out the arrangements for the remainder of the day, has not yet been presented to the House. We are being asked to take a Bill hot foot from the Dáil without any period of reflection. This is not a routine Bill but a highly contentious one. The Lower House divided on it on a number of occasions. It is a constitutional Bill and one that deserves to be treated in a calm way.
In an effort to be helpful, I suggest what is at issue is a question of ministerial convenience or of dealing with the Bill properly. The House is sitting on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. We can take the Bill on either of those days. Only one item of business, according to the information relayed to my office, has been ordered for Wednesday. There would be no difficulty taking this Bill then. We could give it priority. The only item ordered for that day is Committee Stage of the Social Welfare Bill. Therefore, there would be no difficulty taking this Bill on Wednesday.
My advice to the Deputy Leader is to take his courage in his hands and, with the support of the House, tell the Minister that the House will receive the Minister to take the Bill next Tuesday or Wednesday. I will not agree to an adjournment of the House.
In an effort to smooth matters, I ask Senator Manning to agree to the adjournment of the House until 3.45 p.m. during which time I will try to see what can be done about this matter.
I will.
Sitting suspended at 3.18 p.m. and resumed at 3.45 p.m.
As indicated on this morning's Order of Business, a Supplementary Order Paper containing No. 4a, Referendum Bill, 2001, has been circulated. I call the Deputy Leader of the House.
I have acted on the undertaking I gave to Senator Manning in regard to this matter. Having consulted, I propose that Second Stage of the Bill be taken now. Spokespersons shall have ten minutes and all other Senators shall have eight minutes and Senators may share time.
I thank the Deputy Leader for his courtesy and the consultation in which he engaged. I regret that the very reasonable case he made to the Minister to defer the Bill until Tuesday or Wednesday was not accepted. Clearly, the convenience of the Minister or some other people is more important than proper procedure here. What we are now embarking upon is unprecedented outside an emergency situation. I regret this is happening and I do not agree to the proposals outlined.
Is the proposal for time limits for speakers agreed?
No.
Question, "That the time limits for speakers be as outlined by the Deputy Leader of the House", put and declared carried.