As regards the future business of the Seanad, the Government are desirous of having the Land Bill passed before 1st May. In order to secure that, it will be necessary, I think, to meet on one day next week for the Second Reading of the Bill. If the House is agreeable, I suggest that we take the Second Reading of the Land Bill on next Tuesday.
Business of the Seanad.
Cathaoirleach
Has it passed the Dáil yet?
Cathaoirleach
I have been assured that it will certainly pass the Dáil.
That is hard to say.
Is it suggested that we should pass the Second Reading of the Land Bill in one day?
Cathaoirleach
That is the idea.
Is it likely that, in one day next week, we shall be able to complete the Second Reading of the Land Bill?
Cathaoirleach
Certainly. My idea is to give ample time to Senators, after the Second Reading, to frame amend ments for Committee Stage.
Can we sit on only one day next week?
Cathaoirleach
A great many people would like to be free during the other days of Holy Week. That is why I suggest Tuesday.
In view of the fact that the Bill is not through the Dáil, and that we do not know whether it will pass the Dáil or not, should we fix next Tuesday for its consideration? Should we not have some time for consideration of the Bill before Second Reading?
Cathaoirleach
I think that the Bill is available. It is desired that the Bill be passed into law by the 30th April. If we postpone the Second Reading until after Easter we shall hardly be able to give sufficient time, between the Second Reading and Committee Stage, for the framing of amendments, and we may be rushed at the end as we have sometimes been rushed in connection with Bills. That is not desirable. Under the circumstances I think we ought to meet next Tuesday.
When shall we resume business after Easter?
Cathaoirleach
On the Wednesday after Easter week. We have already deferred the Hairdressers Bill to that date, but it is for the House to fix a date to suit its own convenience.
Why is it necessary to have the Bill passed on 1st May?
I understand that if we have the Bill passed before 1st May, it will be possible to give certain relief to tenants from the gale day on 1st May. If we do not get the Bill through by 1st May, it will not be possible to give that relief until the next gale day, which will be in October.
We hope to put in some amendments, and I trust that they will be accepted.
Cathaoirleach
My object in suggesting the consideration of the Bill on next Tuesday is to ensure that there will be ample time for consideration of amendments during the Recess.
If we took the Bill on 15th April, there would be a fortnight to consider it.
Cathaoirleach
We would only have from 15th April to the end of the month.
Can we authorise you to limit speeches to ten minutes or to some particular period? I think that would be necessary in order to get the Second Reading finished in a single day. If we spend a day on the Second Reading and find that we are unable to vote at the end of the day, we will have completely wasted our time.
Cathaoirleach
The time will not be wasted; it will be so much time gained.
So far as carrying out your view is concerned, it will be wasted.
Cathaoirleach
Certainly not.
Senators who propose to take part in the debate should agree to have the debate end on Tuesday. We ought clearly to understand that it will end on Tuesday evening if we are to adopt the suggestion of the Chairman. I wonder would the Seanad agree to speeches being only of a certain duration in order to get the Bill through?
Cathaoirleach
I could not undertake to limit speeches to any particular time, but I should hope that the Second Stage would be completed, without any doubt, in one day. There is ample time from 3 o'clock to 10 o'clock to finish the Second Reading.
In view of what the Minister has stated, I should like to withdraw my objection. Having regard to the fate which has met amendments proposed from this side of the House, I do not think it matters much whether we discuss the Bill or not.
Cathaoirleach
You will have the Bill in hand and you will have ten or twelve days to consider amendments.
An all-night sitting would seem to be the only alternative to placing a limitation on speeches.
Cathaoirleach
I do not think that that would arise at all.
In view of the benefit which this Bill will confer on a number of people who have been looking forward to it for a long time, I propose that the House meets next Tuesday to consider it.
And to finish it on Tuesday.
Cathaoirleach
You cannot make that addendum.
On a point of order, should not the motion be that the House hold its next sitting on Tuesday, omitting the question as to the business to be transacted? If the Bill is not through the Dáil, we cannot take it on next Tuesday.
Cathaoirleach
We shall not meet if we have no business. The only business I can see for Tuesday next is the Land Bill.
I am merely thinking of the form that the order will take in the Journal of the House.
Cathaoirleach
There will really be no other business before us so far as I know.
It was agreed to meet on Tuesday, 31st March, at 3 p.m.