It is proposed to take business in the following order: No. 1, No. 9—Votes 30 to 38, 39 and 41. It is not proposed to interrupt Public Business to take Private Deputies' Business.
Order of Business.
Would the Taoiseach say when the Housing Bill will be introduced?
I promised yesterday to give the House an indication of the business which is contemplated for the remainder of the present Dáil session. So far as can be seen at present, all the legislative business required during the session is included in the following list of Bills: the Finance Bill, the Appropriation Bill, and the Exchange Control (Continuation) Bill; there will be two Bills to confirm Restrictive Trade Orders; the Restriction of Imports Bill, the Housing Bill, the Sanitary Services Bill, and a Rates on Agricultural Land Bill to implement Budget decisions. It is proposed to complete the remaining Stages of the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Bill, the Official Secrets Bill and the Liquor Bill. There will be a Bill dealing with Innkeepers Liability and a Statute Law Revision Bill. An Electricity Supply Bill will be introduced to-day. Then there is the CIE Guarantees Bill, the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, and the Social Welfare Bill to give effect to the Budget proposals. There is a Vocational Education Bill and some Defence measures relating to pensions. There will be three motions—one dealing with national and secondary teachers' superannuation, another dealing with the Dundalk Gas Order, and one concerning Sugar Imports. Some major Bills, such as the Regional and Town Planning Bill and the Companies Bill, will be ready and it might be considered desirable—it is a matter which can be discussed between the Whips—to complete the Second Reading of these Bills before the Recess so that the Committee Stages may be taken on resumption. It will, of course, be necessary to complete in this session all the remaining Estimates and the associated financial measures.
I doubt if the Taoiseach seriously suggests to the House that it is a matter of vital urgency at this stage of our proceedings to enact an Innkeepers Bill and a Law Reform Bill. These do not seem to be the kind of Bills that can properly be discussed at the end of the summer session and, unless they deal with matters of urgency——
I think the Deputy will find that they are not of such importance or length that they will involve much difficulty.
Ordinarily, I take it, they might be left over until the next session of the Dáil, whenever that may be summoned and in whatever form. They cannot be matters of great urgency.
No, but they are ready now. There is a very extensive legislative programme for the autumn session.
Perhaps it is like last year. Perhaps the Taoiseach wants to clear the decks for his general election.
On the contrary. I want to arrange for Committee Stages of Bills in the autumn session in the anticipation that it will facilitate the Dáil to take them then.
I take it we can have a discussion on that.
With regard to the sittings next week, may I make it clear that in the initial discussions I agreed to the House sitting on Tuesday. I now find that, so far as the members of our Party are concerned, some of them believe that the usual practice of not sitting on the day after a bank holiday should be followed. Is it essential to sit three days next week?
Perhaps the Whips could meet again and discuss the situation during the day and we will have an anouncement made tomorrow.