It is intended that we take Item Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 today and it is intended that we take all Stages of Item No. 4.
Order of Business.
I would like to raise one or two issues for information on the Order of Business. First, can the Leader of the House indicate to us that Private Members' Time will be on the Order Paper next week? Secondly, can he as a matter of urgency move to have the Committee on Procedure and Privileges put in place as soon as possible as there is a backlog of outstanding business to be tackled? Thirdly, is he able to indicate to us that there will be a meeting of the Whips and that these meetings will take place on a regular basis so that the orderly planning of the business of the House can be proceeded with? Can he, as soon as possible, give us some indication of the programme of legislation which he intends to bring before the House during the course of this session?
Following on a number of the issues, first of all, I want to ask again, as I asked last week, that the Leader of the House would indicate to us the programme of legislation which it is intended to be taken by the House over this period. To anticipate his response, I know he does not have a duty on the Order of Business to lay out a programme for the next number of months but in terms of the orderly planning of business it was common for him on previous occasions to give some indication at least as to what legislation we might expect.
I would also like to query why it is that there is not any Private Members' Time this afternoon. Traditionally between 6.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon there was Private Members' Time. Perhaps for some reason it is forgotten about this afternoon and we can immediately address it but I would like to hear the response of the Leader of the House on that matter.
Also, circulated with the Order Paper we have got a supplementary Order Paper which includes Items 4a and 4b which I take it will be taken after the Children Bill. Is that the intention? I would like to get clarification as to why membership of the Committee of Selection does not include a member of the Independent group. Perhaps these are all things which could be dealt with but rather than create a row and in the interests of good order I just raise the matters at this point.
As you can see from Senator O'Toole's conciliatory speech, it is not the intention of the Independents to start this session in an adversarial way. I also do not wish to do that. I would like, first of all, to reiterate that point about Private Members' Business. It is very strange that we have not got one and a half hours as we always had in the form of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour or Independent motions. I hope this is not a precedent. Maybe the Leader of the House could answer that for me.
Secondly, I would like to ask the Leader of the House if he would consider taking Item No. 11 today. It is a Bill which was put down in my name and other Independent Senators about the abolition of the death penalty. As it is part of the Programme for Government and the Progressive Democrats who are now Members of this House are so enthusiastic about it, perhaps the Leader of the House could give us a date when that particular Bill will be taken. Otherwise I shall be proposing that it be taken but I do not wish to do that today.
I would like to add my voice to that of Senator Ross in urging that an indication be given when the Bill removing the death penalty will be taken because this is a matter on which there would be very general agreement. It has been the subject of an international conference here recently.
I would like also to say I am sorry there is not an opportunity provided on the Order Paper — perhaps this can be looked at during the afternoon, I will certainly seek to raise the matter under Standing Order 29 — to discuss the industrial dispute that is complicating the affairs of the House. It is most important that an opportunity of some kind should be provided. I see the Cathaoirleach beginning the facial process that will lead towards extinguishing my contribution but I will confine myself to saying that I hope to raise the matter under Standing Order 29. It is very important that we look into it.
Is it intended to sit tomorrow?
Many questions have been raised. There is nothing subterfuge about the fact that we do not have Private Members' Time today. It is because we have to deal with emergency legislation which is of grave importance. We will revert to the normal practice of having Private Members' Time each week from now on.
As far as the Committee on Procedure and Privileges is concerned, the supplementary Order Paper to enable the setting up of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges has been circulated but, due to an error, the name of Senator O'Toole has been omitted from it.
That is a grievous error.
There is a certain mental block in certain places when Senator O'Toole's name has to appear on paper. I certainly agree with the Leader of the Opposition in this House that regular meetings of the Whips should take place. This is very necessary for the orderly running of business in the House. As far as is possible, if the Leader of the Opposition here and myself can meet on a regular basis as well, that would be of benefit to the ordering of business in the House.
With regard to a programme of legislation, there are a number of Bills which have not yet come from the other House which we will be taking. There is a problem in that a number of Bills which we dealt with here are going through the other House. If Senators give me a week I will come back on this. I will not suggest at this stage, or at any other stage, that I will give a programme of legislation that will continue over a month or six weeks period. It is not possible to have that done and it will not be done. I make no promises on that, solemn or otherwise.
I have covered the points raised by Senators Manning, O'Toole and Ross except for Item No. 11. Senator O'Toole and Senator Norris raised that point and I will discuss that with them later. We are meeting tomorrow. I wish to inform the House that we will be taking Item Nos. 6 and 7 tomorrow, the Bovine Diseases (Levies) Regulations, 1989 and Report No. 88 from the National and Economic Social Council.
Order of Business agreed to.