Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I move:

That pursuant to subsection 2° of section 2 of Article 25 of the Constitution, Seanad Éireann concurs with the Government in a request to the President to sign the Social Welfare Bill 2007 on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to her.

A number of the provisions in the Social Welfare Bill 2007 are scheduled to come into effect on 26 December 2007. It is necessary, therefore, that the Bill be signed by the President not later than that date. Under Article 25.2.1° of the Constitution every Bill presented to the President for signature should be signed not earlier than the fifth day and not later than the seventh day after the date on which it is presented. Under Article 25.2.2° the Government, with the prior concurrence of Seanad Éireann, may request the President to sign a Bill on a date earlier than the fifth day. To ensure the enactment of the Bill by 26 December 2007 the concurrence of Seanad Éireann is sought to a motion requesting the President for an earlier signature of the Bill.