The Government's E-Commerce Bill may be passed in this sitting of the Dail, but only by a hair. After debate time was talked out during its second reading in the Dail two weeks ago, the Bill appeared to be heading for limbo until next October, when the House reconvenes. However, it is understood it will probably be given up to three hours of Dail time on Thursday of next week.

In that time the Bill, which has had broad cross-party support prior to being stalled in the House, will have to go through almost its entire legislative trajectory - second reading, committee stage, and final stage discussions. The committee stage will thus end up being a full House discussion, and several proposed amendments are expected to be dealt with at that point. Presuming the Bill makes it to final stage, the Minister for Public Enterprise, Mrs O'Rourke, will report to the Seanad tomorrow week, the final day before the summer break. The Bill would then pass into law. Ireland will lag behind the UK - Parliament has already passed its e-commerce legislation - and the US, which is about to sign its own bill into law.