I have already mentioned to you the Local Government (Temporary Provisions) Bill; that is the measure which was only received in its final stage, as it left the other House to-day. It was only printed last night, and it was only received in the Seanad to-day. It would, consequently, be impossible for us to deal with the Committee Stage to-day, or even, I presume, to-morrow. I take it that at present the Seanad will simply confine itself to the Second Reading of the Bill.
SEANAD IN COMMITTEE. - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) BILL—POSTPONED.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I am afraid that even the Second Reading can be only of the most formal character if taken to-day in view of the fact that a large number of amendments were made on the Report Stage, and none of us have seen the Bill or had time to read it in its later form until to-day. I would respect fully suggest that we should go on with some of the shorter Bills, say Item 4 or 5, or some of these others to-day.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I think, if I might say so, that is quite a sensible proposition. The question is to what date shall we postpone the consideration of this Bill. Apparently we ought not to approach it this week.
If we sit on Friday we might be able to take the Second Reading if the Seanad would agree.
This Bill is one which I clearly recognise I could not ask the Seanad to consider to-day, in view of the fact that the Bill in its final form has not been before them, but, on the other hand, I would ask the Seanad not to postpone it too long because in many respects the Bill is an urgent Bill. For instance, there is power given under Section 11, in case of certain local bodies failing to carry out their duties, to appoint Commissioners. Take the Co. Kerry where there has been no meeting of the County Council and no meeting of the County Board of Health, which controls the County Home, since June last. The public money has been expended absolutely by the paid officials of the county. That is a state of affairs which should not be allowed to continue. As a matter of fact practically no rates have been collected for this year, and enormous sums are in arrear. Things are approaching a crisis there, and there might easily be a complete breakdown of the whole system of Local Government, There are one or two other counties in which the state of affairs is exceedingly bad, and where it might be necessary to use the powers, which this Bill proposes to give, at any moment. I would suggest to the Seanad that they should have in mind that some parts of the Bill are urgent when they are deciding to what date they should postpone it.
Could we not take the First Stage on Friday? Would that suit the Seanad? To-morrow would be very short notice.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I do not think that the Second Reading will occupy very much time; the Committee Stage will. If that is the view of the Seanad we could do that. I am not at all satisfied, however, that we will have business for Friday if we sit to-morrow.
Might we not take the Second Stage to-morrow and take the Committee Stage, say, on Tuesday?
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
Perhaps it might be most convenient to take the Second Reading to-morrow.
I beg to move that we take the Second Reading to-morrow.
If we have nothing else to do on Friday would it be possible to be ready for discussion on the Committee Stage that day? I thought you were going to try and sit for three days this week.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
That was my desire, to have work for three days.
This looks like work and if we could get it through on Friday it would be well.
I do not think it could seriously be suggested that Senators could examine this Bill to-morrow for a Second Reading, prepare amendments, and have them sent in so that they could consider the measure intelligently over one night. We have to deal with the thing seriously, or pass it as a matter of form, as it comes before us. County Kerry is a very important district, but there are twenty-six counties in the Free State, so that we should not, for the sake of a few days, rush through these Bills, if we have any serious intention of dealing with them as a representative body should deal with them.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I understand the feeling was expressed in many parts that an interval of a week should be allowed to elapse between the Second Reading and the Committee Stage of a Bill. If we take the Second Reading of this Bill to-morrow, it will be very difficult to take the Committee Stage on Friday.
I propose that we take the Committee Stage next Tuesday or Wednesday.
I move that we take the Second reading to-morrow, and we can then discuss when to take the Committee Stage.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
Apparently it is the general wish of the Senators that this Bill should be on the agenda for a Second Reading to-morrow.
Agreed.