I move that the Bill be read a Second Time. The necessity which compels us to introduce this Bill is the Damage to Property Act and the Compensation Commission, both of which have drawn entirely upon the resources of the Valuation Offices, and on the officials of that office, and have interfered with the ordinary work which that office normally performs. It will be quite understood that with the very large number of claims to be considered by the Compensation Commission, and with the immense amount of work that is inseparable from the Damage to Property Act, the Entire resources of the machinery of the State will be called upon in order to discharge the duties that would properly fall upon the Government in connection with these two institutions. The Compensation Commission deals with pre-truce cases, and the Damage to Property Act with post-truce cases. In normal circumstances quite a number of valuations are listed for revision each year. That revision work cannot be undertaken if we are to deal with the compensation Commission and with the Damage to Property Act properly, so that it will be necessary to suspend that revision, and this Act is for the purpose of suspending it. I accordingly move the Second Reading of this Bill.
VALUATION (POSTPONEMENT OF REVISION) BILL, 1923. - FROM THE SEANAD.
Motion made and question proposed: "That this Bill be now read a Second Time."
Mr. HIGGINS
I second the motion.
Question put: "That a Bill, entitled An Act to Authorise the Postponement for One Year of the Making of the Annual Revision of Valuation of Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments be read a Second Time."
Agreed.
I move the suspension of the Standing Orders to enable us to take the Committee Stage of this Bill.
If the President can get general agreement, he need not move the suspension of the Standing Orders.
I ask the leave of the Dáil to enable the further stages of the Bill to be taken.
Agreed.
Bill put through its further stages and passed.
A message will be sent to the Seanad acquainting them that the Bill has been passed by the Dáil without amendment.