There is a Private Members' Bill standing on the Order Paper in my name which has been postponed from day to day, and I would like to ask the Government when they would be prepared to give a definite day for this Bill. When I left the Dáil last evening I understood that it was to be taken at 7 o'clock this evening. I received a message later to inform me that the Government desired that the Bill should not be taken until 9 o'clock. Subsequently I received another message—and neither of these messages came from the Government—that the Bill would not be taken this evening at all. I am only a Private Member, but I have the rights of a Private Member, and I put this Bill down as a Private Member in a Private Member's time. I think that in the interest of Private Members we should be informed in time by the Government whether they intend to take Private Members' time or not. I would like to ask now when the next opportunity will be afforded for Private Members to exercise their rights in the shape of Bills, Motions or otherwise, by this Dáil. I respectfully ask the Minister what day can be fixed definitely for the consideration of this Bill, and I suggest that, as a Private Member, I am entitled to have notice of that.
DAIL IN COMMITTEE. - PRIVATE MEMBERS' TIME.
I thought I answered, in reply to Deputy Corish, that it was my intention to afford time for this Bill on Wednesday next.
I am quite satisfied with the President's reply.
There is a difficulty in connection with Wednesday next, as there is a Motion down in the name of Deputy Baxter.
I think my Bill has precedence over that.
I do not think so. I thought Deputy Redmond's Bill was put down for to-day, and I put my Motion down for the following Wednesday. I do not think it is fair to me that I should be asked to postpone my Motion now. If the Government has acted towards Deputy Redmond's Bill as he says, that is a matter between him and the Government to arrange, but as I put down my Motion for next Wednesday I should not be asked to postpone it further.
There is still Friday. I protested against Deputy Redmond's Bill being relegated to half-past nine, because I did not think that satisfactory. If we get through the Financial Resolutions, then from 2 to 4 on Friday would be available to Private Members. I think from the progress we have made, if to-morrow is devoted to the Financial Resolutions we might get them through. We have dealt with the most contentious matters. If the President would give us an undertaking that Friday afternoon would be given to Deputy Baxter or Deputy Redmond I think it would be the best way out of the difficulty.
I would not be ready for Deputy Redmond's Bill on Friday, and for that reason I would like, if Deputy Redmond was agreeable, that he would postpone his Bill to Friday week, which would be only two days after all from next Wednesday. Even if it was taken this evening I would not have been able to afford him any satisfaction, and I am sure it is satisfaction he requires.
I am perfectly willing to accommodate the President, and certainly I recognise the urgency of Deputy Baxter's motion and I would not like to stand in the way for one moment of a discussion of that motion by the Dáil. I am perfectly willing to have the Bill standing in my name discussed in the immediate future, at any definite date, but I do not want it postponed from day to day; and if the President will fix Friday week, as he has promised, for the consideration of the Bill, I am satisfied. Deputy Baxter will then be able to move his motion on Wednesday next, and that being so, I take it for granted now that on Friday week the Town Tenants Bill standing in my name will be taken.
The Dáil adjourned at 10.10 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Thursday.