It is proposed to take business on the Order Paper in the following order: No. 10 and No. 9 (Votes 27 and 28). It is proposed that the consideration of Government business be not interrupted at 9 o'clock. It is further proposed to sit to-night until 12 o'clock.
Order of Business.
On the proposition to sit until 12 o'clock, the Deputies of this Party discussed the matter this morning and did not agree that it would facilitate the conduct of business. They regard it as an undue inconvenience to a number of Deputies who reside outside the city and who have to return to their homes after the Dáil sitting. If the Government Whips and the Whips of this Party met again, it might be possible to arrive at some alternative arrangement, but, so far as the proposition to sit until 12 o'clock is concerned, we shall oppose it.
I understood the Whips discussed the matter yesterday and that no objection was made yesterday afternoon to the proposal to sit until 12 o'clock. However, if the Whips meet and discuss the matter again, any arrangement come to can be brought to the House at a later stage.
I think there can be an alternative arrangement.
Where do we stand in regard to the Adjournment to-night?
We shall sit until 10.30. One of the objections arises out of the fact that when the Dáil sits at 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, it makes a late sitting on Wednesday doubly inconvenient.
I do not want to force any arrangement on the House. It is a matter of getting the business concluded at an early stage in the summer period. It is a question of sitting an hour and a half later for a few nights or of sitting for several weeks at a later period.
I think the experience has been that an hour and a half after 10.30 does not save any time.
I do not think you will get agreement on that. However, I shall see that the Whips of this Party meet the Whips of other Parties and perhaps some other arrangement could be arrived at.
A motion on the matter can be moved up to 8.30. Meanwhile some arrangement might be come to.
Is it not the important thing that there is very important legislation waiting to be dealt with? There seems to be no likelihood of any of the Bills being reached before the Adjournment in the ordinary way. I think that whatever facilities can be given in the matter of late and long sittings, and, if necessary, of all-night sittings, should not be withheld.
What about short speeches?
My contributions are models of short speeches.
The whole time of the Dáil seems to be fixed here to suit the convenience of the section living within 20 or 30 miles of the City of Dublin.
There is no foundation for that statement.
I would suggest that the proper course would be to sit at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, and dispose of the business in that way.
That is not a Party suggestion.
The matter can be mentioned again later.