In order to leave a margin, and be on the safe side in the matter of disposing of the business, I have to move that the Dáil sit later than 4 p.m. and not later than 10.30 p.m., and that Private Business be not taken until Public Business is disposed of. If it is necessary to mention a particular time for that, I will have to mention a rather late hour: 7 p.m. That long sitting involves an hour's adjournment for lunch, and a half hour's adjournment for tea.
MOTION FOR EXTENDED SITTING.
Does the Minister intend to proceed with the Police Forces (Amalgamation) Bill?
I do. It is due that I should say a word in explanation of that. Normally, there would be substance and point in what Deputy Davin said yesterday, that it is scarcely reasonable, at the close of the session, when there is pressure of business, to bring in a Bill which cannot become law this side of the Recess. But the point is, that if the principle of this Bill were approved by the Dáil, I would proceed administratively to act almost as if the Bill were law. I would not do anything, of course, that I would not have legal power to do, but the trend of administration would be based on the fact that the Dáil approved the principle of this Bill.
What about the Seanad's view on that matter?
If the principle of the Bill were approved by the Dáil, I would assume, administratively, that there was a likelihood of the Bill becoming law. For reasons which it would take too long to go into now, it would be desirable that I should know just where I stand on that matter.
I would ask the House to divide on this motion by the Minister.
Let us be clear as to what the motion is first. I do not know exactly what it is.
I wish to enter my protest against the tactics adopted by the Vice-President and the Government in depriving Deputies of their rights. Two hours from 2 o'clock are allowed Deputies on Wednesdays and Fridays for private business, and now we are told that the Government require all the time and that private business can only come on after 7 o'clock this evening. I do not think it is fair to expect Deputies to remain here until 7 o'clock to-night, for the purpose of considering private business. I think the Government should facilitate the discussion of, at least, item 8 on the Orders of the Day, as it has been on the Order Paper for nearly a fortnight. That is not too much to ask.
Let us be clear as to what the intentions of the Minister are. It is intended, I take it, to sit until 10.30 for the transaction of business. Private business would be dealt with, under Standing Orders, from 2 o'clock until 4 o'clock to-day. Am I to take it that the Minister is desirous of giving two hours for private business some time during to-day's sitting?
I would give 3½ hours to private business—from 7 o'clock to 10.30 o'clock.
Is that on condition that the public business is disposed of?
I would bind myself to give from 7 o'clock to 10.30 o'clock.
The proposal would, therefore, be to sit until 10.30 p.m., and, by agreement, to take private business at 7 o'clock for the remainder of the sitting.
I am not satisfied with that at all. I demand my rights here, and I am going to get them if I possibly can. Private business comes on at 2 o'clock, and why should we be deprived of our rights as private members? I have personally facilitated the Government on two occasions, in connection with this Motion, by allowing them to go on with public business. Now, we are told that it cannot come on until 7 o'clock this evening. Could not the Minister take this Motion at 2 o'clock and proceed with public business after 4 o'clock?
I can meet the Deputy on that. I should have thought that 3½ hours in the evening would be as good as two hours in the middle of the day. I would undertake to give from 2 o'clock to 4 o'clock for any private business on the Order Paper, but public business will have to be resumed at 4 o'clock and carried on until 10.30 p.m.
I undertake to remain here until 10.30.
If we agree to sit until 10.30, we will have to fix an hour for the luncheon adjournment. Shall we say from 2 o'clock to 3 o'clock?
From 1 o'clock to 2 o'clock.
Then, private business will be dealt with from 2 o'clock until 4 o'clock.
Is the Vice-President in a position to make a statement as to what is likely to be the programme for next week? Are we to assume that there is going to be only one sitting next week, and that we must rush through everything on the Order Paper to-day?
I was rather hasty in committing myself to 1 o'clock as the hour for adjournment. I would suggest from 2 o'clock to 3 o'clock.
The adjournment then will take place from 2 o'clock to 3 o'clock. Private business will be dealt with from 3 to 5 o'clock. We will then proceed with any public business that remains to be disposed of.
Are we to assume that there is going to be an adjournment until next Friday, and that any business that remains over can only be dealt with on Friday, as stated in the Press?
I do not know who authorised the Press statement. I would ask to be allowed to postpone a definite decision as to the length of the adjournment until we see how we stand towards evening. What I would aim at, if possible, would be an adjournment this evening until noon on Friday, 19th instant.
There is a question which, perhaps, the Minister will take note of. Deputy McKenna has, at the suggestion of the Minister for Industry and Commerce, proposed to raise on the adjournment a question which is giving considerable trouble to some people, and the Minister has promised to make an extended statement on it. If that is to come on at 10.30, it cannot receive the attention that, perhaps, it deserves. I think it should come on after private business.
I am hopeful that it will be possible to adjourn sometime before 10.30 p.m. But I will note what the Deputy says, and we may possibly take this question after private business.
Can the Minister for Industry and Commerce state definitely whether he will be in a position to make his promised statement about the Shannon scheme next week?
Yes.
Motion—"That the Dáil sit later than 4 p.m. and adjourn not later than 10.30 p.m."—put and agreed to.