Before the House proceeds to discuss this Bill I think I ought to mention that I have received a communication from the Joint Committee on Standing Orders. It is to the effect that they are recommending to the House the adoption of the following additional Standing Orders in connection with Private Bills:—
(1) That no member of either House in or before the Dáil or the Seanad or any Committee of the Whole House be entitled to vote upon any Private Bill in which he is personally interested, pecuniarily or otherwise.
(2) That no member of either House should bring forward, promote or advocate in the Oireachtas any proceeding or measure in which he may have acted or be concerned for or in consideration of any fee or any pecuniary reward.
(3) That no member of either House should act as Parliamentary Agent or in the capacity of counsel in the matter of any Private Bills or other proceedings in the Oireachtas.
Probably when we meet next these will appear before you for reference, either to adopt them or to refer them to your own Committee on the Standing Orders, but I thought I would mention them now, because I think it would be fitting that we should have regard to them in the discussions that may, or may not, take place on the Second Reading of these Bills to-day.