I propose that Deputy Doyle take the Chair.
Election of Chairman
Question put and agreed to.
Deputy Doyle took the Chair.
Our first business is to decide whether or not representatives of the Press should be admitted to the proceedings of the Committee.
I propose that they be not admitted.
Question put and agreed to.
Our next business is to fix a date up to which amendments, if any, to the Bill will be received, and further, to fix a date for the meeting of the Committee at which these amendments will be considered.
Amendments could be received from to-day. I should like to point out, however, that this Bill may have been drawn up by a layman, for all I know to the contrary. I know nothing about the draftsmanship of the Bill at all. It was handed to me by Sir Joseph Glynn. I take it that the Bill, with the amendments we make, will go to the draftsman. I should like that the Bill, as amended by us, should be put in proper shape by the Parliamentary Draftsman.
I think we have not reached that stage yet.
The Second Reading of the Bill has been carried. Therefore, I think we are entitled to any assistance the office can supply in the way of expert knowledge.
Do you not agree that the Bill, plus our amendments, should go to the draftsman to be put into proper shape?
I do not think that the draftsman would undertake to draft amendments.
No, but when they are agreed to they should be sent to him with the Bill.
I am sure they will be put in proper form after they are agreed to.
That is what I have in mind.
You suggest that before the Report Stage the Bill, with amendments, should go to the draftsman?
We will discuss amendments and, if we agree upon them, I suggest that they should go with the Bill to the draftsman, so that it will be presented to the House in proper form.
When we reach that stage, the Secretary will be able to tell us, from inquiry, what assistance we can obtain.
The Minister for Justice may desire to tighten up some provisions of the Bill as far as his office is concerned. Will he send his amendments through the members of the Government Party?
I do not know that he will.
I think we should ask him whether he desires to put in any amendments or not. It would be better that we should have the Minister's amendments before us.
The Minister will get the same information about the Committee being in session as anybody else.
I think the Chairman might see the Minister, inform him of the arrangements, and apprise him as to the last day on which amendments will be received.
I will do that.
Could we arrange, provisionally, a date up to which to receive amendments but not fix that date as the final date?
We can fix a date and ask members to send in amendments before that date, but amendments can be received at any time by the unanimous wish of the Committee. It would be well, however, that as many amendments as possible should be sent in before the suggested date, so that there will be sufficient business to go on with.
It was agreed to request members to furnish any amendments they desired to bring forward before noon on Monday, 3rd March.
The next business is to fix the date of the next meeting.
I propose that the next meeting of the Committee be held on Thursday next at 10.30 a.m.
Thursday morning next will not suit me. Would it not be possible to hold the meeting during the sitting of the Dáil?
I understand that there is objection to the holding of Committee meetings during sittings of the Dáil. The proceedings would have to be interrupted, in any event, to enable members to take part in the divisions.
Thursday morning does not suit me, but I will make an endeavour to attend if it suits the majority of the members.
Wednesday morning would be inconvenient to country members, as it would mean travelling on Tuesday.
Motion by Deputy Dr. O'Dowd put and agreed to.
Next meeting to be held at 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 6th March.
The Committee adjourned at 11 a.m.