Some of my colleagues during the day reminded me of the fact that next Thursday is a Catholic holiday, and they suggested that it was desirable that we consider the question whether we should sit on that day, which is a recognised Catholic holiday in the country. I have not had time to discuss the matter with many of my own colleagues. I do not know what their views are. A few of them mentioned that they believed it would be the feeling of the country generally that we ought not to sit on that day. I raise the matter now for discussion.
PRIVATE DEPUTIES' BUSINESS. - SITTINGS ON CATHOLIC HOLIDAYS.
It is a question of coming to a decision as to whether we ought to sit on a Church holiday. No practice has been established and with regard to next Thursday specifically, if the House will not sit on that day, it will mean a sitting on Wednesday only, because we could not sit on Wednesday and again on Friday. Perhaps the proper thing to do would be to have the question considered by the Committee of Procedure and Privileges. It is too late now to consider the question of sitting on next Thursday. It could be raised next Wednesday, but generally it is a question of which there ought to be sufficient notice in order to allow Deputies to know at the end of the previous week what the sittings are during the following week. I suggest that the proper course for the Deputy to adopt is to raise the matter with the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and have it discussed generally.
I am quite satisfied to do so. I do not know what the views of my own Party are on the matter. There were some Deputies who asked me to raise the question, and they feel rather strongly on the subject. It is the first time that the matter arose. I do not know what the procedure is in order to get the matter raised before the Committee.
I will have the matter raised.
The whole question could be thrashed out there and a decision come to and communicated to the House.
The Dáil adjourned at 2.10 p.m. until Wednesday, 16th May.