I should like to ask on a point of order how we can do any business to-day, because I received a notice—and I think most other Senators did—asking me to attend an informal meeting of the Seanad, whatever that may be. How can an informal meeting of the Seanad elect Committees which bind the Seanad for the whole Session?
BUSINESS OF THE SEANAD.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I am very glad to see, notwithstanding the receipt of that notice, that not only was the Senator able to be present, but that we have a very good attendance of Senators. I am not responsible for the expression "informal," but I am responsible for asking the Clerk to inform Senators that the business would be of a formal character, and they will see, if they look at the Order Paper, that that is an exact description of what business there is. The only business we have is the re-election of certain Standing Committees, and I certainly was not going to leave Senators under the impression that we met to-day for the transaction of business in the ordinary way. I thought it would be desirable and in their interest that they should be told that the only reason we met to-day was because of the Oireachtas having been summoned. As the Oireachtas was summoned I thought it was only right and fair and proper that the Seanad should be convened. At the same time, as Senators might have found it very inconvenient to attend to-day, I thought it proper to let them know that the business would be of a purely formal character.
If I may point out that is not the statement we got, and I think many Senators from the country may not have come here.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I am very glad to see such a good attendance, as I did not anticipate anything like that number. We will now proceed with the business.