May we understand what is going to happen in regard to the amendments?
Children Bill, 1940—From the Seanad.
Will the amendments be taken to-day?
Will the Minister say whether he is accepting those amendments?
I am not accepting the first amendment, but I am accepting the others.
Well, we will leave it for some other day.
With regard to leaving it over for another day, the Seanad I am informed is not likely to reassemble until May.
Time enough.
It would mean that this Bill would not become law as soon as we might wish. The Seanad is prepared to consider the amendments this evening when we have disposed of them—that is, if the House is willing to deal with the amendments now.
Will the Minister accept all the amendments?
No.
How many amendments is the Minister prepared to accept?
I am not prepared to accept the first amendment. The others are merely consequential and involve only questions of draftsmanship.
The Minister is, I understand, prepared to accept all the amendments except No. 1.
But No. 1 is very important.
Will the Minister give us his reasons for not accepting No. 1?
Are they to be taken to-day?
If they are to be taken to-day, and if the Minister is not accepting No. I, I will ask him to leave the consideration of it until 6 o'clock.
That would mean half an hour.
The censorship motion is to be taken at 6.30?
Yes.
Amendment No. 1 could not be disposed of in half an hour.
It is much better to dispose of it in half an hour in the presence of people interested in it, people who have a contribution to make to it, than to have it disposed of without their presence here. No one understood that this business was to be taken in this way to-day.
I have no guarantee that the Seanad will be sitting after 6 o'clock. I think it is the usual procedure to take amendments from the Seanad at the earliest possible moment.
Oh, no.
What is usually done is to indicate whether or not it is the intention to accept them and then leave them to some other time, if the House so desires. What is intended in this instance?
Leave them over.
Leave them until 5.30.
Other Deputies have intimated their intention of intervening in the discussion on the first amendment.
That hour would not suit us at all. Better leave the consideration of the amendments over until to-morrow.
I am prepared to leave the matter over until to-morrow morning.
Ordered accordingly.