It is proposed to take item No. 1 today.
Order of Business.
Item No. 1, continuation of the Extradition (Amendment) Bill, 1987.
I am not disputing the Order of Business on those grounds. I would like to know if it is intended to finish Second Stage at 12.30 p.m. because we have five speakers left and that means curtailing Second Stage which the Leader of the House pledged we would not do.
I think that was an order of the House. That was agreed to last Friday.
I think the Independent group were not consulted about it or asked how many speakers they had left.
With the greatest respect to the Senator, the order was passed by the House last Friday.
Without consultation.
There was no Independent Member in the House when we were making the agreement.
It does not arise.
Is it in order for Senator Daly to refer to the absence of Members from this House? If it is not I request that you come to our defence.
No, it is not in order.
Perhaps Senator Daly would withdraw his remarks in that case.
Perhaps it is the Monday morning air that is getting at the lot of you; so be it if it is. We had an agreement ordered by the House and agreed by the House on Friday and that is carried on to this morning.
On a point of information, the Whip of the Independent group was consulted about this matter and the order was made in the House on Friday.
On the Order of Business, Item No. 5 on the Order Paper is the Status of Children Bill, 1986, Report Stage. As Members of this House are aware, this is a limited Stage; it refers to amendments to that Bill which were passed in the Dáil and it requires, first of all, the approval of this House before it can go to the President and then be implemented. I do not understand why we have not taken it. We had the Minister for Justice in the House all last Friday and we have him all of today. It is not a controversial matter at this stage. It is a technical issue which has extremely important ramifications as recent newspaper reports about an abandoned baby have made clear. The future position of a baby whose life story has been in the headlines for the past week would be secured by the passage of that Bill. I do not think there is any reason not to deal with it. It is simply inertia. It could be done at some stage today in half an hour. I think it reflects badly on this House that for reasons I do not appreciate a simple technical matter is delaying the passage of extremely important legislation which affects 10 per cent of the children born in this country every year. I wish we could do it and I request the Leader of the House——
Senator Ryan, you have your point made. I would prefer if you did not make a speech.
I request the Leader of the House to take this matter today for half an hour and finish it. I do not think there will be any disagreement about taking it quickly and disposing of it. I am surprised we have not been asked to do it. It reflects badly on us that we have not been asked to do it, as a matter of urgency, because it is an extremely urgent matter.
The Leader of the House to reply and conclude.
It is not intended to take Item No. 5 today. It will be taken at an early stage. The House is sitting today for a specific reason and for that reason only.
Order of Business agreed to.