It is proposed to take Item 5 on the Order Paper, Financial Resolutions; Item 6, Estimates, Votes 4 to 30 inclusive; and Item 7, Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Bill. The Dáil is to meet to-morrow, Friday at 10.30 o'clock.
Order of Business.
Is the Vice-President in a position to say whether the House will sit on Friday of next week?
I take it it will not. Thursday is a holiday and we are not coming back for Friday.
Arising out of the suggested Order of Business, I observe that it is proposed to take the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Bill this evening. This is a very complicated measure and various Acts are referred to in the Bill. There is no explanatory memorandum circulated in connection with the Bill. Most Deputies will find it difficult to understand the Bill as it is. On Tuesday, I asked that the report of the Committee of Inquiry into the question of the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions should be circulated. That report would be of great assistance to any Deputy who wishes to study the Bill. A copy of the report has only been handed to me within the last hour. I suggest that it is unfair to take the Bill until Deputies have had an opportunity first of examining the report. I suggest further that the Vice-President consent to leave the Bill over until next week so that we could read up the report in the meantime, or failing that, the Vice-President would make the Second Reading speech on the Bill this evening and then move to adjourn the debate. The remainder of the discussion could be resumed next week when Deputies will have had an opportunity of reading the Second Reading speech in the Official Debates.
I am quite prepared to do that—to make the Second Reading speech this evening and then to adjourn the debate. I do not think the Bill is as complicated as Deputy Norton suggests. Deputies have the Bill before them, and a copy of the report has been available in the Library for some time. However, I will make the Second Reading speech. Then if any Deputy wishes to carry on the general discussion, well and good, or if the House wishes to leave it over until next week, having heard the Second Reading speech, the House can do so.
Is it the intention to circulate the report generally to the Deputies?
Yes.
Can the Vice-President say when the Courts of Justice Bill will be taken?
We have not the definite date fixed yet—perhaps next week.
It would be well if the Vice-President would make an announcement to-morrow as to what business it is proposed to take on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, and whether the Courts of Justice Bill will be taken.
Yes. That announcement will be made.