I move:
That, pursuant to subsection 2º of section 2 of Article 25 of the Constitution, Seanad Éireann concur with the Government in a request to the President to sign the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 1969 on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to him.
As the Seanad is aware the provisions of section 3 of the Bill, which will give effect to the increases in rates of unemployment assistance, are due to come into operation on 30th July, 1969, and it is necessary that the Bill should become law before that date. This will enable payments of unemployment assistance at the new rates to be effective from that date.
Because of the dissolution of the 18th Dáil and the subsequent general election the Bill could not be brought before the Seanad earlier than today in order to ask the President to comply with the regulations of the Constitution in the normal way. The Government therefore have decided to ask the Seanad in accordance with Article 25. 2. 2º of the Constitution to agree to the President being requested to sign the Bill and thus bring it into effect on a date earlier than that on which he would normally be obliged to sign it.