If I would be in order I would move the adjournment of the Seanad. Yesterday evening, when we were adjourning we were told that when the Committee Stage of this Bill would be resumed, we would be taking up one of the most important motions connected with this Bill. When I look around I see that there are only about one-third of the members present, and if we are going to deal with one of the most important questions under the Judiciary Bill, a measure which will last for all time in this country, I think we ought to adjourn its further consideration, and have the matter taken up at the next meeting of the Seanad. Yesterday evening several members of the Seanad, not expecting that we would sit on a Friday, as it had not been our custom to do so, made arrangements to leave for their homes in the country. That is another reason, I think, why we should adjourn the further consideration of this Bill to the next meeting of the Seanad, and I move accordingly.
SEANAD IN COMMITTEE. - THE COURTS OF JUSTICE BILL, 1923.—COMMITTEE STAGE.
I second the motion. Friday is a bad day for a sitting of the Seanad, and at present we have a very small attendance of members.
I think there is a great deal in what Senator Farren has said. We have been sitting here for the last two hours and there are very few members present now. I think if we are to get the real opinion of members of the Seanad on this very important matter, that we ought to agree to Senator Farren's motion.
I hesitate to intervene in this discussion, as I had not been able to attend earlier to-day. I agree with Senator Farren that this is a most important measure and that we are now approaching one of the principal clauses in the Bill. Obviously if we were to take up discussion of the clause now it would occupy a very long time, and therefore I think the consideration of the Bill should be deferred to the next meeting of the Seanad.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
If the Seanad is in favour of the motion it should be distinctly understood that Senators must be prepared to sit on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of next week. That must be distinctly understood, because I am satisfied that this most important Bill will take at least three days to dispose of in Committee.
Why not meet on a day earlier?
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
There is no objection to that except that some Senators might be taken by surprise because they may have thought when leaving town that the sitting would be resumed on Wednesday next.
Surely the Clerk could give notice to the Senators by telegram?
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
You do not quite appreciate my point. Some Senators come from England at great personal sacrifice, and, I think, with great patriotism, to attend the meetings here. It might take them by surprise and interfere with their arrangements if we were suddenly to depart from the usual practice and sit on Tuesday instead of Wednesday. The only substantial point I have in mind is to ask Senators to be prepared to sit for three consecutive days next week.
I beg to move that the Seanad adjourn until next Wednesday.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
Before that motion is taken there is a motion by Senator the Earl of Mayo, which was on the paper a few days ago.