The business will be taken as on the Order Paper, Items 1 to 24. Items 8 to 15 inclusive, the Quota Orders, will be taken after No. 17, No. 23 after No. 19, and Item No. 7 to be taken in the appropriate place. Public Business to be interrupted at 9 o'clock for Private Deputies' Business.
Order of Business.
Is item No. 24, Shop Assistants (Conditions of Employment) (No. 2) Bill, to be taken to-day?
Yes.
That is absurd. That Bill was only circulated the day before yesterday. It is absurd to take it to-day. As far as I am aware it was only circulated the day before yesterday.
I am prepared to leave it over until to-morrow.
I think it would be much more satisfactory if it were left over until this day week.
I do not think it is a Bill that will cause much discussion on the Second Reading Stage. My recollection is that on the Conditions of Employment Bill there was a short discussion on the Second Stage but a very long Committee Stage. It is desirable to get the Bill passed this year as there is business likely to occupy the Dáil until Christmas.
We would be glad to facilitate the Minister, but he will bear in mind that, unlike the Conditions of Employment Bill, this is a short Bill, and is nothing like the compendium that the other one was. I should certainly like time to consider the Bill in principle and I do not think we can do so to-day.
This Bill has been on the Order Paper for a long time. It was only circulated on Monday last, and within 48 hours we are asked to consider an extremely lengthy Bill. It is obvious that the House should get longer time to consider it before being asked to give it a Second Reading.
Does the Deputy think we could take it to-morrow?
I do not think that that would enable Deputies to study the Bill sufficiently.
This day week?
If the Bill had reached Deputies on Friday or Saturday they might have had time to read it over the week-end, but it was only received by them on Monday.
I am prepared to leave it over until this day week, if I get co-operation, so that it will be passed into law this session.
Agreed.