I have no objection to taking this. I understand there was a Committee of both Houses to deal with it. I am at a loss to know whether that Committee met or not. Unfortunately the Minister for Local Government is ill at present, and I would suggest that it would be put on for to-morrow.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTORS REGISTRATION BILL, 1923—FROM THE SEANAD.
Could we in the meantime have any indication of whether the Minister proposes to approve of this or not?
The Minister for Local Government is not well to-day. I have not heard from him on this. I understand he was not in the office yesterday or to-day.
The matter has been before the Dáil now for two or three weeks and although I suppose there is nobody who can answer for him, it would be important for us to know whether there is to be a motion moved on this, or whether it remains where it is.
I explained to the Ceann Comhairle that I understood that this Bill with the amendment had been referred to a Joint Committee of the Seanad and the Dáil. I do not know whether that Committee met, and if it did, what was its decision. It is to enable me to get this information that I propose to postpone the matter until to-morrow.
My recollection was that the Committee was not appointed to deal with any specific case of a conflict of opinions as between the Dáil and the Seanad, but more particularly with regard to the general question as to conflicts which might occur. I would like to know if it is within your knowledge whether the Committee is going to be kept to the general question, or to report on it, because if the Committee is to report on this and the next two items on the Orders of the Day, and we are expecting a report from the Committee on these matters, I suggest we can hardly proceed on them now in advance of the specific recommendation we may be expecting.
The Joint Committee was not appointed to consider this, or any particular amendment. It was appointed with general terms of reference, and has had several meetings, and has agreed on several matters, which will appear in a Report. With regard to this matter, which was the occasion for the appointment of the Committee, I think the decision reached by the Committee will simplify the question which arose in connection with this amendment, and as the President, unfortunately, had not been informed, the matter can be left open until to-morrow, when he can discuss it with knowledge. What Deputy Johnson apparently requires to know is whether there is any change in the Minister's mind, that is, whether he can agree with the amendment.
The Minister could not agree with the amendment. It brings in contentious matter, and unless there is agreement between the Committee of both Houses with respect to this, the Minister cannot accept it.
It does not depend on the agreement of the Committee.
The Minister does not propose to move that the Dáil agree with this amendment. The President has answered my question. That is all I want to know.
Order discharged, to be taken up to-morrow.