On a point of order, I think the House was misled this evening. There was no arrangement made by anybody on this side for the Minister to get in at eight o'clock. As a matter of fact, Senator O'Quigley was to speak. I consulted the Party leader, Senator Hayes, who had consulted Senator Kissane. He told us he did not make any agreement, good, bad or indifferent. Senator Kissane said that the House would sit until midnight. There was no agreement on this side and we were misled. We think it unfair. One Senator waited the whole day but got no opportunity to speak.
Appropriation Bill, 1957 ( Certified Money Bill )— Committee and Final Stages.
Bill passed through Committee, reported without recommendation, received for final consideration, and ordered to be returned to the Dáil.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
The matter is now passed. It cannot be reopened at this stage.
The Senator mentioned the question of sitting late. Is it necessary to sit late?
Could I make this suggestion? There would be an opportunity for people to make a general statement on the Final Stage of the Finance Bill. That might meet the wishes of people who did not get an opportunity of speaking on the Second Stage of the Appropriation Bill. Senator Hayes did say—whether out loud or not, I am not sure—that he could not give any guarantee about the Minister getting in at eight o'clock.
I did not catch that.
Senator Kissane may not have caught it, but I certainly heard it. It was not said in a loud tone.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
I do not want this matter reopened, but, for the purpose of clarification, I might say this. I actually have a note from Senator Hayes to myself in which he said he agreed with Nos. 1 and 3, but could not promise anything about the Minister getting in at 8 o'clock. That was handed to me hours ago. However, this matter is closed. I only wanted the House to understand where exactly the Chair was in this matter. I was in the Chair at 6 o'clock and that was the position.