I am anxious to complete the Second Stage of the Road Traffic Bill to-day, and for that purpose I move: "That Government business be not interrupted at 12 o'clock for the taking of private Deputies' business." At the conclusion of today's business I propose to move that the Dáil adjourn until Wednesday week.
Business of The Dáil.
Is there no business to be done next week?
It is not ready.
Why then was there all the rush last week?
Can the President explain why there is no business for next week?
It would be a rather lengthy explanation.
I suggest that the motion on the Order Paper in my name, No. 18, might well occupy the attention of the Dáil next week.
That is only dealing with unemployment.
I should like to ask the Minister for Justice to have his amendments ready to the Moneylenders' Bill, which has been hanging over for a long time. The rule is that amendments should take precedence of other matters. There is also some other legislation from the Department of Justice.
There is no Moneylenders' Bill. There is a Committee considering the matter.
I was informed that we had to wait until the Minister had his amendments ready.
I wish to support Deputy O'Connell that the Dáil should meet next week and discuss the resolution in his name; that the Executive Council should forthwith institute remedial matters calculated to provide useful constructive work at fair wages for unemployed workers in town and country, and to meet the special needs of agriculture occasioned by the abnormal fall in wholesale prices. I think Deputy O'Connell has a right to press that the Dáil should meet next week to consider the motion in his name. We rushed through business here last week, which was of vital importance to the nation, and there was no time to discuss it properly. Now the Government proposes to take another holiday, although the Dáil has only been a fortnight in Session. I hope Deputies will press that the Dáil should meet next week to discuss this motion.
Mr. O'Connell
I think the motion is of very great importance to the people of the country. The Government have given no indication whatever as to whether they recognise there is an economic problem to be dealt with or whether they are taking any steps to meet that problem during the coming winter. I certainly think the Dáil could be engaged in no more useful work than discussing that motion. There are also other motions of importance on the Paper.
Less talk and more work would do a lot of good in this country.
I want an explanation why the work is not being done? Why is it that there are so many Bills held up? Where are the Bills the First Reading of which was taken before the adjournment? When will the Merchandise Marks Bill and the Transport Bill be ready?
I should say in about three weeks.
Mr. Boland
There is time for the Public Safety Bill, but there is not time for anything else.
There is also the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill.
I think the best thing would be for the Government to get out of that and let somebody else in who would do the work.
That is a great joke.
I suppose it will not be necessary to sit late to complete the Road Traffic Bill?
I should hope not.
When will the motion to adjourn be put?
We can take it now or at the end of business.
We want to get the business through first. Take the business first.
At the conclusion of the business it is proposed to move the adjournment until Wednesday week.
Ordered: That Government business be not interrupted at 12 o'clock for the taking of Private Deputies' business.