REPORTS. - DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS.
The SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS in the course of an oral report stated that great progress had been made with the establishment of Parish and District Courts. Much satisfaction had been expressed with their working. The rules of the Courts had been printed and were now ready for circulation. A great bulk of business had sprung up in the matter of Emigration which necessitated a fair amount of expense; a fee of ⅓ was therefore being charged for each permit. He thought the recommendations for the issuing of permits were being made too freely and he was getting out an instruction to the parties concerned in the matter. The causes often pleaded by those applying for permits, viz., ill-health, completion of studies and unemployment should henceforth be supported by reliable evidence. Most of the cases dealt with so far related to persons who had booked their passages before the issue of the Decree.
He had a motion on the Agenda authorising the ruling out of certain Acts of the British Parliament which were hostile or repugnant on religious or national grounds.
With regard to the Increase of Rent Decree he did not want to press for its consideration at that Session as it was a very large measure and would require a fair amount of time to consider all its clauses.
It was thought that the setting up of a National Film Censorship could be undertaken by An Dail. The latest suggestion was that the Municipal Bodies should be asked to appoint a Central Censor in Dublin. It would be well to have one recognised authority for the whole country as it sometimes happened that pictures passed in Dublin were not approved of in the country. He did not, however, intend to introduce legislation on the subject at the present Session.
The SECRETARY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT moved, and P. O MAILLE (Connemara) seconded the adoption of the Report.
The SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS stated in reply to the Deputy for Wexford North that the number of applications for emigration permits dealt with so far exceeded 250. The rejections did not exceed 50; the reason being that the Registrars, Justices and Volunteer Commandants in the country took it for granted that they ought to pass all applications from persons who had their passages booked before the issue of the Decree. The warning he was now issuing would cause them to be less ready to-recommend applications.
The Report was adopted.