I propose to ask the House to-morrow to take the Second and remaining Stages of this Bill. The Bill will be circulated to-night. It is the annual Army Bill which, owing to the action of the Seanad, is not going to run for the normal period of one year; it will run only to 1st July.
Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) (No.2) Bill, 1934—First Stage
Leave granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to continue the Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) Acts, 1923-1924.—(Minister for Defence.)
Bill read the First Time.
I will ask the Minister to postpone the Second Reading of this measure until next week.
It is the ordinary annual Army Bill, and the only change in the measure from the form in which it has been passed for the last ten years, is the date.
I do not think the Minister can complain of the type of discussion that took place on this measure. If there is a desire on the part of any member of the House to discuss any aspect of Army administration, he should be permitted to do so.
He will be free to do so to-morrow.
The Minister has not given us adequate notice of this Bill. I suggest to him that in fairness to the Department, to the House and to himself the Second Reading should be postponed until next week. There need be no delay in connection with the subsequent stages of the Bill, but there may be matters that could be usefully discussed on the Second Reading.
Perhaps we could take the Second Reading to-morrow, and if, following a discussion, there are any matters of sufficient weight to warrant the postponement of the Fifth Stage, that could be done. I would like to have the Bill introduced into the Seanad next week.
I submit that the First Reading of the measure could easily have been taken last week.
I propose to take the Second Stage to-morrow, and, unless something extraordinary happens, we will ask the House to take all the other stages on the same day.
I think the Minister's request is very unreasonable. In the circumstances he ought to postpone the Second Reading until next week.
Suppose the House is asked to take the Second and the remaining stages on Tuesday?
I am quite satisfied. I am anxious to have the Bill introduced into the Seanad next week.
Second Stage fixed for Tuesday, 29th May.