The first business is the election of a Chairman.

I propose that Deputy Moore be Chairman of the Committee.

I second.

Under Standing Order 71 no persons other than Deputies may be present except by leave of the Committee. Is there any motion to admit the Press ?

The next business it to fix the latest date for the handing in of amendments.

I am anxious to hear what the views of the other members of the Committee are. I do not want to limit the time unduly, but I propose that 6 o'clock on Monday evening next be the latest hour for receiving amendments.

That would mean, in the case of Deputies who live in the country, that they would have to post their amendments on Saturday.

Is there any special reason why a later date should not be fixed for the reception of amendments.

I am anxious to get the Committee Stage of the Bill through next week because, otherwise, I am afraid I would not be able to get the Bill through the Dáil before Easter. If the Bill is not through the Dáil before Easter, then I am afraid it will not be possible to have it in operation before the 1st July, and I am anxious that it should come into operation by that date.

Would Tuesday next be too late for the reception of amendments ?

So far as we are concerned we can have our amendments in by Monday evening, but if Deputy McGovern wishes to have an opportunity of consulting his friends in the country over the week-end that, of course, is another question.

I do not think that I will have an opportunity to consult anyone.

In that case we can have our amendments in by Monday evening, but so that we may meet the convenience of all I formally propose : That the latest hour for receiving amendments be 12 o'clock noon on Tuesday, 2nd April.

Could we have some indication as to when we will be able to hold our next meeting ?

In view of the fact that amendments will be received up till 12 noon on Tuesday and will then have to be printed and circulated it would hardly be possible to have the next meeting of the Committee before Thursday morning.

That would suit me, provided that the Committee will have no objection to sitting late on Friday, if necessary, for the purpose of finishing the Committee Stage of the Bill.

When is it proposed to take the Committee Stage of the Bill in the Dáil ?

The Committee Stage of the Bill will be taken here before this Special Committee. The Report Stage will be taken later in the Dáil.

I move : That the next meeting of the Committee be held on Thursday, 4th April, at 10.30 a.m. and that the decision as to the further meetings of the Committee be deferred until that day.

I take it that the amendments, as received, will be circulated in typescript.

Yes.

I hope to be able to send in many of the Government amendments this evening.

It would facilitate the work of the Committee very much if we could have all the Government amendments as early as possible.

I hope to have them all in by to-morrow evening.

I think that concludes our business to-day.

The Committee adjourned at 11.20 a.m. until Thursday, 4th April, 1935, at 10.30 a.m.