John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

With regard to ordering business and the taking of various Stages of Bills on the same day, more experienced Senators will recall that taking Committee and Report Stages together has been a regular feature of business, whereas taking Committee Stage immediately after Second Stage is very unusual. It is a matter for the agreement of the House.

With regard to the issue raised by Senator Finucane, members of the convention have regularly presented their views to the Forum on Europe. The chairman of the Forum on Europe is due to address the Joint Committee on European Affairs today. The Minister appeared before the committee prior to the Copenhagen summit. Ongoing liaison is taking place with regard to the work of the convention, which is not to say it would not be useful to debate the issue in the House. I do not believe any of the parties share the view expressed by Mr. Prodi that tax affairs should be covered by majority voting and we should lose sovereignty over them.