I beg to move:—

"That it is desirable that a Conference be held between members representing the Seanad and the Dáil upon the amendments made by the Seanad to the Shop Hours (Drapery Trades, Dublin and Districts) Bill, 1926, with which the Dáil have disagreed, and that the Seanad do propose that a Conference be held accordingly and that it be represented thereat by the following five Senators:—Brown, Douglas, Farren, MacGuinness and Moran."

The intention of my motion is to see if, before the House decides whether or not it should insist on its amendments to this Bill, any of the points can be met and if, possibly with a certain amount of sacrifice, agreement can be reached. I would just like to say, briefly, that I have no idea whether agreement can be reached, but it is my opinion that if it were possible on one or two of the outstanding points to reach a certain amount of compromise, it would be better that the Bill should be passed than that it should be held up for nine months. Even then the question as to whether the Executive would be obliged to send it to the Governor-General or not would be a very nice point indeed. I prefer that there should be agreement, and for that reason I suggest that the House should pass this motion. If there is no agreement the House will be at absolute liberty either to insist upon the amendments or to decide it should not insist.

I beg to second.

Motion put and, on a show of hands, declared carried by 18 votes to 15.

I was speaking to a Senator just before the House assembled, and I know that he definitely expressed views opposite to the manner in which he is now voting.

I cannot hear you.

I therefore ask for a division.

In the event of Senator Douglas's motion being carried and the Dáil and Seanad having a conference, can Senator Moran go forward with his motion, then, if there is agreement?

Oh, yes. Senator Moran's motion would still stand.

I mean after the conference?

If the conference is abortive.

Can he bring it forward then?

Oh, yes.

Whether the conference is abortive or not, I want to say, with great respect, that he can bring it forward.

I will not be in Dublin on Friday, and I ask some other name to be substituted on the Committee.

I hoped that the Committee might meet at once. The Dáil will probably be sitting only one or two days and——

I vote in favour of the motion.

I take it that if the Dáil refuses to meet the Committee in conference the matter will collapse.

Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.