As the House is probably aware, we have not framed any Standing Orders to deal with the procedure either on the occasion of a Joint Sitting for the purpose of hearing and receiving the Address of the Governor-General or as to the proceedings in this House in reference to that Address after it has been received and read. We propose at once to remedy that omission in our Standing Orders. The Standing Orders Committee will be convened for an early date this week—to-morrow, if possible— and that will be one of the first matters taken up, because I think it is essential that members of the Seanad should know where they are in regard to this matter and therefore be in a position to know exactly what the procedure will be when they do meet on an occasion of the kind. But I thought in the absence of any provision in our Standing Orders that the wisest course for me to adopt was to place an intimation on the notice summoning the meeting that the address would be open for discussion in this House. At the same time I quite realise the difficulty that Senators may be under in discussing that Address after such a very brief interval, and if the House would prefer that there should be an opportunity for the consideration of this Address, before they meet to discuss it, the proper procedure for that purpose would be a motion adjourning the sitting to-day, to a date to be fixed, the purpose of the adjourned Session being the consideration and discussion of the Address. On the other hand, if members of the Seanad would prefer to discuss it now, it will be open to them to do so. It is a matter I propose to leave entirely in the hands of the House and would be glad to get their views on the subject.
THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S ADDRESS.
