We propose to meet at 3.00 p.m. on Tuesday, 6th May, and it might help the House if I indicated the programme the Government have in mind for next week. We propose to sit on Tuesday from 3.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m., on Wednesday, the 7th, from 10.30 a.m. to 10.00 p.m., and on Thursday, the 8th, from 10.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. On Tuesday, 6th May, we propose to continue with the Broadcasting Authority Bill, Second Stage, and I understand the Minister for Finance hopes to get the Finance Bill from the other House on Tuesday night. If his expectations are correct, we hope to deal with the Finance Bill here on Wednesday and Thursday, the 7th and 8th of May.
Business of Seanad.
It will be hard for anyone living in rural Ireland to give credence to the arrangements. I am not finding fault with Senator Sanfey, but in view of the fact that the Leader of the House came in this morning and changed the whole programme, I am wondering if this arrangement will stand on that side of the House.
Senator Sanfey has given his estimate of what will happen next week. It is a matter for the House when it assembles to fix the business for that day.
The manner in which the Government have conducted the business today is outrageous in its arrogance. They insisted that we would not discuss the important matter of education today, that we would discuss the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Bill. The Minister for Justice was present in the House this morning when we began. He deliberately absented himself from the House for the entire day, on his own most important Bill, except for about half an hour. There have been a number of fine speeches from both sides of the House. The Minister has not heard one single word of them, and he does not seem to care.
He cares.
For the information of Senators, since the House will meet again on Tuesday next, the Provisional Order Paper will not be issued.
The Seanad adjourned at 5 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Tuesday, 6th May, 1975.