We will take the Oireachtas Witnesses Oaths Bill first. The question is that Section 1 stands part of the Bill.
OIREACHTAS WITNESSES OATHS BILL
[OIREACHTAS WITNESSES OATHS BILL.]
Question put and agreed to.
The question is that Section 2 stand part of the Bill.
Question put and agreed to.
The question is that Section 3 stand part of the Bill.
Question put and agreed to.
The question is that Section 4 stand part of the Bill.
Question put and agreed to.
I may say that I have consulted with several people in regard to the Oireachtas Witnesses Oaths Bill and I have not heard any comments or suggestions in regard to the Bill.
The only section there might have been any question about is Section 3, as to who is to administer the oath, but we have put it so fully that there could hardly be any question about it.
I have heard no criticism. I asked Lord Glenavy and others for criticism, but I have heard none.
The Bill, without amendment, was ordered to be reported to the Seanad.
[PRIVATE BILL COSTS BILL.]
We will now take the Private Bill Costs Bill. The question is that the title stand part of the Bill.
The title does not really include Clause I. It has been put in as an additional clause. The Bill, as originally drafted, did not contain the Parliamentary Deposits Act Section. It is a very necessary Section.
I am not quite sure that it may not be necessary to amend the title, for this reason : that when it goes to the Dáil, where they are stricter with regard to title than we are, they may amend it. I propose that we postpone consideration of the title until we see whether we make any amendments in the Bill or not. I may say this is not the Bill that Senator Brown drafted, and I think it would be advisable in going through the sections to turn up the references and just satisfy ourselves that the references are correct.
Yes, quite right.
Our principal need is to check the references and satisfy ourselves that they are correct.
It is legislation by reference with a vengeance.