Before taking the Bill I may say that in the case of Private Members' motion in the names of Deputies Dr. Browne and McQuillan, the time remaining on it is 1 hour and 40 minutes. The time remaining to Deputy Corish, who moved the adjournment, is 24 minutes.
National Loan, 1959. - Private Members' Business.
After that, do I take it that the other resumed motion will be taken? I was under the impression that the resumed motion in the names of Deputies O'Higgins, J.A. Costello and Cosgrave would come first.
The Bill, in the names of Deputies O'Higgins, J.A. Costello and Cosgrave, takes precedence.
Is that merely a statement from the proposers of the Bill or a debate?
I am moving the Bill. I understand the position to be as follows. We had some discussion on it last Wednesday. I understand that, to-night, at Private Members' time, I am entitled to move the First Reading of the Bill and I understand it takes precedence over the motions on the Order Paper.
I only want to get the form clear. I understood last week, either from the Taoiseach or the Minister for Justice, that the Government are opposing the First Reading of the Bill and that those in whose name the Bill appears will be allowed merely a statement in Private Members' time.
Oh, no.
I am not submitting that. I merely say that that is what the Leas-Cheann Comhairle said.
I do not know if the Leas-Cheann Comhairle said that.
I stated that on the previous occasion.
That may have been inaccurate. I understand the position to be that, in the case of a Private Members' Bill, the proposer is entitled to make his speech without any particular restriction that might otherwise apply.
It could scarcely be called a speech. The Member is entitled to make a short explanatory statement on why the Bill should be introduced.
What happens after that?
And so the ten-minute rule does not apply.
If it is short, it is short.
Can there be a discussion after that?
Am I right in thinking that the proposer of the Bill is entitled to make an explanatory statement to justify its introduction and that the person opposing it can make an equally short statement opposing it?
The Taoiseach introduced the word "short".
I did not but Standing Orders did.
There is no ten-minute rule applicable to this.
How short is "short"?
How short is ten minutes?
Half an hour.
I feel so indignant about, it that I might easily take two hours, and that would be short.
There would scarcely be any precedent for the time.