I move that the Report of the Joint Committee on the Limerick Harbour Bill, 1926, be laid on the Table.

I do not know how long it will take the Minister for Industry and Commerce to consider the report, but I would like to have it considered here to-morrow.

I want to mention a matter of which Deputy Cooper, as Chairman of the Committee, is aware. A suggestion was made to the Committee by the legal adviser to the Harbour Board to have an amendment inserted which would give the Harbour Commissioners discretion to pay the present Secretary, who is 84 years of age, a pension. The Committee thought it was not a matter for them, and I understand that the legal adviser is in consultation with the Limerick Deputies with a view to bringing the matter forward. If the Report Stage is taken to-morrow would that prevent me from tabling an amendment? I have doubts whether the Minister would agree to that amendment.

I have not seen the amendment, but if the Bill passes the Report Stage it will not be possible to propose any amendment but a verbal one on the Fifth Stage.

Two of the Limerick Deputies are ill and two others are not here, and I, as a Limerick Deputy, desire to say that the legal adviser of the Harbour Board has not been in consultation with me.

I was called out suddenly a while ago in reference to this matter, and one of the Limerick Deputies was in the hall a few moments ago in consultation with the legal adviser. He is probably looking for the other Deputies.

I understand that Deputy Davin's question is: if an amendment were tabled to-morrow on the Report Stage, would it be in order, and, if it meant a substantial addition to the Bill, would it have to be sent back to the Joint Committee?

I understood Deputy Davin to ask, in the event of the Report Stage being finished to-morrow, whether an amendment could be proposed later. No substantial amendment could be proposed after the Report Stage. If to-morrow a further amendment were proposed it would, according to Standing Orders for Private Bills, have to be sent back to the Committee if the Chair thought the amendment was one of substance. That point, however, could not be decided until the amendment was forthcoming.

So far as the amendment which is suggested here is concerned, I would be prepared to deal with it to-morrow.

To agree to it?

Not necessarily.

Report ordered to be considered on Friday, 18th June.