May I ask the Minister for Finance if he proposes to take the Financial Resolutions to-day? We only received a number of important amendments this morning, and there has been very little time to consider them.
LAND PURCHASE FINANCE. - ORDER OF BUSINESS.
If the Railway Bill is passed.
I would like to take the resolutions to-day.
Would the Minister think that quite fair? He has tabled five or six amendments, some distinctly important ones, some affecting things in principle. These amendments only reached Deputies by post this morning. Personally, I have spent two hours this morning doing work for the Government, and I have not had time to consider the amendments.
There is another reason. At 8 o'clock last night we left the Dáil on the direct understanding that we were taking as first business the Railway Bill.
There is at least one resolution that I would like to take because there is one amendment that I would like the Dáil to consider to-day, that is Resolution No. 7 dealing with the question of bottles. The other resolutions are not so urgent, and the Report Stage of them can be left over, if the Dáil so desires.
Has the Minister read the amendments? Does he know that besides his own amendment to that resolution Deputy Johnson has two amendments down?
I am aware of that.
We should have time to consider all those amendments in order to see which is the most preferable course to adopt.
I have read the amendments handed in. I do not think that there is any new matter raised in them or anything that would prevent the Dáil considering them as well to-day as on Tuesday. I do not want to press the matter, but I must press that the Report Stage of Resolution No. 7 be taken to-day.
Is the Minister going to move to sit late? If it was merely to get a pro forma resolution to facilitate the Minister and to enable him to collect a duty, which he might not collect otherwise, then I would be very anxious to facilitate him, but it really makes debate a mockery if we are not to have a longer time to consider amendments than this. We cannot possibly apply ourselves properly to the arguments we wish to put forward. The Minister in this amendment is changing the whole scheme of the resolution to which we assented. We were asked to assent to the taxation of black and green bottles. Now we are asked to assent to the taxation of all sorts of bottles. We cannot be experts, and we should have an opportunity to consult people in the trade, who are interested, as to what the effect of the amendment will be. It has been absolutely out of the question for anyone to do so since we received these amendments.
The Deputy is assuming things perhaps without sufficient grounds. If we come to the resolution I will be able to make an explanation. There is no change in intention. As a matter of fact, this is a matter of phraseology, and there is no change of substance proposed in any amendment I put forward. Perhaps it is difficult for Deputies to make their best speeches if we have such short notice, but really the substance of the whole matter has been before the Dáil.
Could we not take Resolution 7 dealing with the tax upon bottles, and if in debate on the resolution serious differences arise the question of adjourning the debate can then be considered? If the Minister's contention is justified he can then get his resolution to-day. Would that suit Deputy Cooper?
It will suit me perfectly, because serious contention will arise.
Will it be taken before the Railway Bill?
I think so.