Perhaps it would save time if I explained that the Bill as drafted was drafted under the advice of a competent draftsman and was extended somewhat from the first intention; that is to say, it was made into three sections instead of one, but on submission to the Department of Local Government their advisers thought it desirable to re-draft the Bill so as to have one effective section only in it. The amendments that are to be proposed do not affect to any degree the substance of the Bill but do, in fact, delete two of the clauses and compress them all into the first clause, with certain other formal amendments which the Minister believes necessary. I may say that I have the authority of the Minister to indicate to the Seanad that the amendments that are now proposed are official, that is to say, they are departmental amendments; the Minister has agreed to them and is prepared to give support to the Bill and to help it through the Dáil. I think that will preclude any necessity for me to go into any detail to explain the purposes of the various amendments.
SECTION 1.
Notwithstanding anything contained in any enactment limiting the granting of outdoor relief by guardians of the poor to certain classes of persons, it shall be and be deemed always to have been lawful for the Guardians of the Dublin Poor Law Union or the persons for the time being appointed to perform the duties of those guardians to grant subject to such (if any) regulations as may be made by the Minister for Local Government and Public Health and so long as no county scheme relating to the said Union is in operation, outdoor relief to any person in the said Union who is eligible for relief.
