I am afraid it will be necessary to ask the Seanad to conclude its sittings this week this evening, as I do not know that the Attorney-General or myself will be available to-morrow or Friday. I should like to say that as far as we are concerned we did not anticipate having to make this request, and that it is owing to matters arising out of Article 12 of the Treaty, as to which we have accepted an invitation to attend a Conference at Downing Street on Friday. Hitherto we have been able to get across at night and to start working on the morning we arrived. I do not know that we can venture on that experiment to such a great extent in future as we have in the past. I am, therefore, asking that we might be relieved, and that the Seanad would adjourn for, say, a week, in order to afford us an opportunity of attending this Conference and, at the same time, afford the Seanad our views on the subject of this Bill, which, as we have said before, is of very considerable importance.
THE COURTS OF JUSTICE BILL, 1923.—COMMITTEE STAGE RESUMED.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
However inconvenient it may be, in view of the fact that Senators were informed that they would be kept here for three days consecutively in Committee upon this Bill, and that probably some have made their arrangements on the faith of that, nevertheless, I think it is inevitable, in view of the circumstances which have been referred to by the President, that we should adjourn the Committee Stage of this Bill after to-day's sitting. It is quite evident that both his presence and that of the Attorney-General are eminently desirable at this Conference to be held in London on Friday, and I am sure we all sympathise with what he has said as to the risk involved to health, as well as everything else, in these constant journeys by night. Inasmuch as this Conference, I understand, is to be held early on Friday morning, it is a reasonable thing that they should suggest that they should travel to-morrow morning. Under these circumstances, I think, it is inevitable that we should comply with the request that has been made by the President. We must endeavour to see if it would be possible to provide other business for the Seanad to-morrow. I will be able to announce that before the adjournment. Meanwhile, I take it, we are agreed to comply with the request made, and after the conclusion of to-day's proceedings to adjourn the further proceedings in Committee until the following week. Is that the wish of the Seanad?
Agreed.