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Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Jul 1929

Vol. 12 No. 19

Dublin City and County (Relief of the Poor) Bill, 1929—Committee Stage.

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.

I move:—

To delete in lines 23-24 the words "of the Dublin Poor Law Union" and to substitute therefor the words "of the poor of any union wholly or partly situate in the County or County Borough of Dublin".

Amendment put and agreed to.

I move:—

Before the word "those" in line 25 to insert the words "any of".

Amendment put and agreed to.

I move:—

To delete in lines 27-28 the words "and so long as no county scheme relating to the said Union is in operation."

Amendment put and agreed to.

I move:—

To delete in line 28 the words "the said" and to substitute therefor the word "such."

Amendment put and agreed to.
Question—"That Section 1, as amended, stand part of the Bill"— put and agreed to.

I move:—

New Section. Before Section 2 to insert a new section as follows:

"2. The Minister for Local Government and Public Health may, in addition to the powers vested in him by the Poor Relief (Ireland) Acts, 1858 to 1914, make regulations governing the exercise by a board of guardians of the powers conferred on them by this Act."

Amendment put and agreed to.
SECTION 2.
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 Rathdown Union in the County of Dublin 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.

I move:—

To delete the section.

Amendment put and agreed to.
SECTION 3.
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 Balrothery Union in the County of Dublin, 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, relief to any person in the said Union who is eligible for relief.

I move:—

To delete the section.

Amendment put and agreed to.

I move: "That the Standing Orders be suspended for the purpose of enabling the remaining Stages of the Dublin City and County (Relief of the Poor) Bill, 1929, to be taken to-day."

I had an interview with the Minister for Local Government and Public Health, and he informed me that if all stages of this Bill were put through this House to-day he would see that the Bill was put through the Dáil before it rises.

I second the motion.

Question put and agreed to.
Bill put through remaining stages and passed.

I do not think we ought to adjourn without complimenting the Committee that had charge of this Bill in bringing it to such a successful issue. Senators who live in Dublin, and who know the necessity for this Bill realise what it will mean, not only to the poor but to the Commissioners who are administering relief. The Commissioners have been doing the best, practically without any law in their hands, to give relief in some cases where, according to the law, they had no power to give it. Therefore, I would like the House to compliment the Committee on the very valuable work they have done.

Cathaoirleach

That is a very proper commendation of the work done, and I am sure the members of the Committee are grateful.

The Seanad adjourned at 6.40 p.m. until 8.15 p.m.

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