It is proposed to take business as on the Order Paper: Items Nos. 5, 8, 6 and 9. If, by any chance, the business should finish to-day, would there be any objection to taking the Expiring Laws Bill?
Order of Business.
No.
Last week there was a kind of understanding that we would finish the Supplies and Services Bill this week, on the assumption that we would get down to a discussion of it on Wednesday. So far, we have not reached it and I take it that it will cause no inconvenience if it is carried over until next week, so long as it is passed next week.
The Seanad will be meeting on Wednesday. So long as I can get the Bill there for that day, it will be time enough.
Will the Minister arrange to put it down for Tuesday, so that we may have a full run at it?
It will have to be disposed of by Tuesday.
Will it be put down as first business on Tuesday?
There may be some other smaller matters to be dealt with first.
So long as we do not reach it at 7 o'clock or 8 o'clock, we shall be satisfied.
The Government will be concerned to get it as early as possible.
After the formal business.
It is included in to-day's business.
Yes, and may be reached to-day. There are a couple of Supplementary Estimates which it is important to get passed quickly—the Estimates in respect of Córas Iompair Éireann and the fuel subsidy.
I understood that the Fuel Subsidy Estimate was not to come on before Christmas.
That was a misunderstanding on my part. It has been explained by the Department of Finance that unless it is passed before Christmas there will be a substantial loss of money to the Exchequer in respect of interest payments.