I have to announce that the Housing Bill will not be taken to-day. It will be taken tomorrow. With regard to the question of adjournment for an hour this evening, I do not know what the views of the Deputies are as to whether that practice of adjourning for an hour in the evenings ought be continued?
EVENING ADJOURNMENT.
Does silence on the part of the Deputies indicate that there is no dissent from the present practice of adjourning for an hour in the evening, or does it indicate a dissent from the old practice of not adjourning?
I do not know what the Minister said. I know that practically everybody is against this adjournment for an hour in the evening.
I may say I am of the same opinion as Deputy Corish.
I think this should be put to the free vote of the Dáil. The Whips should not be called upon to persuade their Party to vote. I think, in the meantime, we should carry on until the Orders of the Day are completed.
That is not the question.
Mr. EGAN
I would like to support the adjournment for an hour this evening. It is extremely desirable that everybody should have a chance of having a meal.
The result since that practice of adjourning for an hour in the evening came into operation, has been that a large number of Deputies went home and did not come back that day, and at the tail end of the evening, at least on one occasion, we had only a bare quorum. I think it would be better continue the old system.
Mr. O'HIGGINS
I am not moving that we adjourn this evening.
The sitting will therefore continue until 8.30 p.m.