I move that the Second Stage of this Bill be not taken to-day.

The Minister has a short explanation to make to the House on this Bill and I wonder would the House be agreeable to hear him?

Can that be done now, Sir, when there is an objection to taking the Second Stage? I do not know what the position is under Standing Orders, and I am merely asking the question.

Is Senator Tunney persisting in his objection?

Yes.

In that case the Bill cannot be now discussed and will have to be postponed.

Can I intervene at all at this point?

I am afraid not.

I do not want to hold up the Bill and I suggest that it can be taken on the soonest possible occasion.

Can we take it to-night?

I have no great interest in this particular measure, but it does not seem right that it should be postponed now and taken later to-night.

What is the procedure? Is a Senator entitled to object and will that be the end of it?

It is, yes.

I suggest that we could take it to-morrow.

I suggest that we suspend Standing Orders, Sir, and have the discussion now.

No, that cannot be done.

It is not only a question of this particular Bill, but the way in which private Bills are dealt with. Under the Standing Orders, if an objection is taken to a Bill, we must postpone it, and we cannot make an exception in this case.

I agree, but I do not think, if it is postponed now, that it would be right to take it to-night.

That is quite right.

If there is a valid objection, then I can see no point in bringing it on again to-night; we should postpone it for a week.

Postpone it to the next meeting of the House.

If it is agreed, we could take the Bill to-night. I suggest that, to meet the objection, we should postpone the Bill for ten minutes and take it then.

Is there agreement that the Bill be postponed until the next sitting of the House?

Would I be permitted to make a short explanation?

That is not possible at this stage.

Second Stage postponed until the next sitting of the Seanad.