I move a Vote on Account for Financial Year commencing 1st April, 1923:—
"That a sum not exceeding £14,099,174 be granted on account for or towards defraying the charges for certain public services for the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1924."
The various sums against the particular services that are dealt with are set out in the White Paper, amounting in all to £14,099,174. I intend within a month to bring up the whole of these Votes for consideration by the Dáil, or at least within the month of April to bring up the whole of them, and consequently, this being only a Vote on Account, it was not my intention now to deal with them by detailed discussion, which I believe is to some extent customary on matters of this kind when asking for such a large sum. I think I have already explained that the work of the Ministry of Finance is pretty considerable, and that within this year the principal officer has undertaken the control of another Service under the Commissioners, and that the consequent reduction of the Staff and the other work that has been taken on in connection with the Compensation Bill that we have just passed, has absorbed a good deal of time, and has not given us an opportunity for dealing with a matter of this kind in the ordinary normal way. I would then, if the Dáil were agreeable, prefer if discussion on the Estimates were, as far as the details are concerned and, in fact, the general discussion, left over until the whole Estimate is being introduced. I should say it would come on within a week, if not sooner, when we reassemble after Easter. It is a large sum to be asked for, 14 millions; it contemplates an expenditure running over something like four months. It is anticipated that the discussion on the Estimates may possibly extend over a considerable period, and to that extent Estimates for four months are being asked for. In the ordinary way that length of time could be devoted to the consideration of the Estimates. A good deal of complaint was made last year about the haste with which the Estimates were introduced, and the rather short time left at the disposal of the Deputies for the consideration and discussion of them. It is much better that items involving such a huge sum as appears on the White Paper should be the subject of the most careful consideration of the Dáil.