The amendment in the name of Deputy Johnson to this Bill does not seem to be relevant. It will not, therefore, be moved.
PUBLIC BUSINESS. - ORDERS OF THE DAY. TELEPHONE CAPITAL BILL, 1927—REPORT.
I beg to move: "That the Bill be received for final consideration."
I propose to say on the motion all I intended to say on the amendment.
That would be also out of order. I think the proper way to raise the matter dealt with in the amendment is by separate motion. It is dealing with the question generally rather than in relation to a particular Bill. Amendments of this kind have, in fact, been inserted in certain Bills, but they were of a different character to this.
Is it the point that it is not in order to raise it on the Report, or any, stage?
I think it would be out of order on any stage after Second Reading.
I wish to know whether it is not possible to raise the question in opposition to the Bill dealing with the terms and conditions on which the money will be spent.
Generally the position is that on Second Reading objection may be taken to a Bill on the grounds that it does not contain certain provisions that a Deputy thinks it should contain to meet his requirements. Amendments, so far as relevant, may be moved to the Bill in Committee. On Report Stage, objection can be taken to a Bill only on the grounds of what it contains, not what it does not contain. Then, I think, it would be too late. The same applies to the Fifth Stage. The point which Deputy Johnson wishes to raise should, I think, have been raised on the Second Stage.
Motion—"That the Bill be received for final consideration"—put and agreed to.
Would the Dáil be agreeable to take the Fifth Stage of the Bill to-day?
Is there anything to be gained by taking the Fifth Stage to-day, as the Seanad is not sitting and will not sit until next week?
Fifth Stage ordered for Wednesday, 2nd March.