I beg to move that Seamus de Burea be nominated Minister for Local Government. This particular post is one that will require very great attention from the person appointed, and while it may be urged that Deputy Burke has not had much association with the administration of Local Government, he has been a member of the Dáil since 1918. This office, and indeed most of those offices, during the next couple of years will depend very largely upon the individual appointed and upon the policy of the Government. Local Government itself will require, perhaps, the most attention of any of the Ministries for some time to come. There has not been any great development in the last year or two, so far as able and capable administration are concerned, and it will be the study and the work of the persons who are appointed to try and mark some improvement in regard to this particular Ministry in the years to come. A considerable amount of arrears is outstanding in rates in the country, and the rates generally of local authorities are more than the people can bear. In a sense it can scarcely be urged that that is a responsibility of the Ministry, but I take it that the Minister, while concerning himself with that particularly in future, will see that particular service will be conducted throughout the country in such a manner that the ratepayers will get full value for their money.
TUARASGABHAIL I DTAOBH CUR AMACH RITEACH I GCOIR BAILE ATHA CLIATH THEAS. - MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Mr. DOYLE
I beg to second the motion.
Ba mhaith liom cuidiú leis an rún san. Tá a fhios agam gur fear cliste é agus táim deimhnithe go ndéanfaidh sé an obair go maith. Theasbain muinntir Tiobraid Arann sa Toghachán Mór an meas a bhí aca air, agus táim cinnte go bhfuil an meas céadna ag lucht na Dála air.
I am, I think, the only Deputy in the Dáil who was associated with Deputy Burke some years ago in the arduous and thankless job of trying to obtain the sinews of war in America and in trying to conduct a campaign for the establishment and recognition of this State. I have a knowledge of the qualities which Deputy Burke displayed during that period, and I would like to associate myself with the proposal that he be accepted as Minister for Local Government. I am confident that he will display the same qualities as he displayed in America, in the arduous and perhaps the unpopular task of conducting and controlling the Local Government affairs of this country.