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Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Friday, 27 Jul 1923

Vol. 1 No. 34

THE ORDERS OF THE DAY.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

Senators will have noticed that the Second Reading of the Land Bill does not appear upon the Orders of the Day. That arose in this way. Under our Standing Orders any business that is in the Orders of a particular day, but not reached, automatically comes on to be taken up the following day. Yesterday, it was felt that it would be very important that Senators should have in their possession at the earliest possible time the list of new business that would be taken up to-day. Accordingly we had the Orders of the Day circulated with the new business, but time did not permit of inserting the Land Bill and Senator Barrington's motion, if it were to be printed that evening, and in the hands of Senators. Under our Standing Orders these two matters—the Land Bill and Senator Barrington's motion—automatically are available for to-day.

There is just one other matter that I would like to mention. Of course, this is a matter entirely for the Seanad. I am very anxious to meet the wishes of the majority of the Senators with regard to the Stages of any particular Bill. I can only be guided by expressions of opinion that reach me; I have no other means of ascertaining what their views are. But I understand there is a substantial body of opinion in the Seanad that wish to have the Land Bill (Committee Stage) adjourned until Wednesday. The original idea was to take it on Monday, but a number of Senators made representations to me, in view of the amendments that they require to put down even yet, that they will not be able to have them in time to have them printed and in the hands of Senators for Monday. Therefore, unless there is some opposition of a substantial character to the suggestion made to me by a number of Senators, I think it would be more convenient if the Committee Stage of the Land Bill is taken up on Wednesday. I do not want the Seanad to come to any conclusion now. They can decide that when we have got through the Second Reading of the Bill. But if that is the general wish when we have finished the Second Reading, then the matter may be determined by the Seanad. If it is put off until Wednesday, then it leaves Monday so far free, if I may use the expression. But there are already six other Bills, that have reached the Seanad— two of them have already passed a Stage in the Seanad—that could be made available for business upon Monday, and, therefore, the postponement of the Land Bill until Wednesday will not leave us idle on Monday. I wish Senators also would consider and discuss amongst themselves whether it would not be desirable for us next week to meet at an earlier hour, and I would suggest, if the Seanad so approve, that upon Monday next it should meet at 11 o'clock. I do not want any decision or discussion upon that now, but if the Senators will talk amongst themselves and find out what is the convenience of the greater number and let me know at the end of the sitting, I will endeavour to meet the wishes of the greater number.

May I ask how late can we table amendments for the Land Bill?

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

There is power in the Chairman to accept amendments at any stage, and in view of the short time that has been allowed to us for the discussion of that and other important Bills, I shall accept any amendment which seems to me to be of a material character at any part of the Committee Stage. At the same time I would impress upon Senators the great importance of having these amendments put down beforehand so that they may be printed and circulated amongst the Senators. After all, this Land Bill has been under discussion for weeks in the Dáil, and at different stages a print of it was circulated amongst the Senators so that they have had a very full opportunity for considering amendments, and giving notice of them. I would ask them between this and Wednesday to put them down in time, so as to have them printed and avoid the necessity of my ruling that they can be admitted at any stage.

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