It is proposed to take the business as on the Order Paper, numbers 2, 3 and 4. Of the Estimates, Votes 5 to 58 inclusive will be taken. Public business will not be interrupted at 9 o'clock to take Private Deputies' business.
Business of Dáil.
Is item No. 5 not being taken?
Not to-day.
We got intimation that it would be taken to-day.
It will not be taken to-day.
Before we proceed to the business proper, might I make a request to the Government in connection with item 6 on the Order Paper —the Public Assistance Bill, 1939. Any body who has read this Bill will realise at once that it is a very complicated measure and involves a codification of a whole lot of Acts relating to public assistance. It is extremely difficult for an ordinary Deputy to follow the provisions of the Bill and to ascertain what precise amendments are being made in the existing law. I would ask the Government not to proceed with the Second Stage of the Bill until such time as an explanatory memorandum has been issued by the Department on the matter. It is obviously a Bill about which an explanatory memorandum should be issued, so that we could know what exactly we are doing in respect to the whole question of public assistance.
I should like to join Deputy Norton in that request. It would also apply to the Land Bill in which there are about 56 sections, almost all of which represent legislation by reference. I would be very grateful if the Minister, who, I think, happens to be acting at present for both Departments, would indicate his readiness to withhold the Second Stage of these Bills until a White Paper has been circulated explaining exactly what is proposed in the several sections.
Mr. Boland
I agree to that, but I imagine that the Second Reading speech would be sufficient to explain it. I will circulate an explanatory memorandum.
For both Bills?
Mr. Boland
That is the Public Assistance Bill——
And the Land Bill.
Is there any real reason why measures of such size and importance as these and the Valuation Bill should be thrown into the financial part of the year?
Mr. Boland
For the reason that the last Government always did the same. The late Deputy Duggan, when he was Chief Whip, informed me that they kept things over until the hot weather in order to get them through.
It is obvious that there is no sensible reason.
I take it that we will get the explanatory memorandum?
The Minister has so stated.
Before the Second Stage?
Mr. Boland
Prior to the Second Stage.