Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Jul 1924

Vol. 8 No. 2

LOCAL OFFICERS COMPENSATION (WAR PERIOD) BILL, 1924.—FIRST STAGE.

The PRESIDENT

I beg to move for leave to introduce this Bill. It is a Bill "To make special provision for the payment of the compensation to which certain former officers of local authorities who were removed from or otherwise ceased to hold office during the years 1919, 1920 and 1921 are entitled in respect of their having been so removed from or otherwise ceased to hold office."

It is hoped that this Bill will settle, to some extent, the difficulties that have been experienced and often expressed in the Dáil regarding the cases of the officers described in the Schedule to the Bill.

Mr. JOHNSON

I oppose the First Reading of this Bill. I know nothing about it, and the Minister has not given us any justification at all for bringing in a Bill of this kind. We are now talking about the congestion of business, but we refuse, in effect, an opportunity for the proper discussion of the Estimates. The Minister, in bringing forward this Bill, gives us no explanation as to what it is, and asks us to give it a First Reading. I oppose the First Reading of the Bill.

Captain REDMOND

As far as I am concerned it is not from what the President has stated that I got my information about this Bill, but I gather from the wording of this proposal that the Bill is one to deal with cases which both Deputy Corish and myself have raised on several occasions in the Dáil. That being so, I hope that Deputy Johnson will be able to withdraw his opposition to the First Reading of the Bill. As far as I understand, the Bill is to provide that where certain awards were made, especially in the case of the Wexford County Council, to certain rate collectors, the Wexford County Council should be indemnified by the Government against this charge. As far as I am concerned, I happen to be interested in the people to whom the awards were made, and I do not care whether it is a county council or a Government charge. In equity, I think the proposal is one that should be a Government charge, because, as far as I know, it was at the instance of a former Dáil that the county council acted as it did in this matter, and I hope therefore that Deputy Johnson will see his way not to oppose the First Reading of this measure.

Mr. JOHNSON

The Deputy is asking us to assume that he knows all about the measure. The President has not stated what the Bill is, and I cannot accept the Deputy's explanation.

The PRESIDENT

On more than one occasion attention was drawn to the fact that Second Reading speeches were made on the First Reading of a Bill. This evening I introduced this Bill, and I said very little about it so as to save public time. At once I am faced with an objection because I have not gone into a Second Reading speech in introducing this measure. On all occasions I endeavour to save the time of the House, and if the records are looked up I do not think it will be found that I have ever occupied more time than an ordinary member of the Dáil in any statements I had to make. We can all, of course, observe all the forms at great length, and with great lucidity absorb the time of the House, but at the same time we cannot do that and save time. We cannot, for instance, meet every case put up by Deputy Corish and by other Deputies regarding certain difficulties experienced by local authorities and at the same time afford opportunity for discussion on the Estimates and other matters of pressing importance in the limited time at our disposal. If the Dáil wants a Second Reading speech on this Bill, I am prepared to give it now.

Mr. JOHNSON

I would like to have an explanation as to what it is about.

The PRESIDENT

It is to remove a cause of irritation amongst local authorities in connection with certain officers. These officers were dismissed during the years 1920, 1921 and 1922. The British Local Government Board at that time fixed what their pensions were to be. In certain cases the local authorities paid the pension, but in certain other cases they did not do so. This measure seeks to carry out an obligation that we entered into when negotiating with the British Government about the payment of grants. The local authorities, on their part, while taking the money, did not fulfil their obligations, and this measure is to see that as far as these officers are concerned in respect of whom we gave an undertaking that they are not at a loss and that their rights are safeguarded. That in essence is a Second Reading speech.

Mr. BAXTER

Will the President say if the Bill will cover the cases of officers who were in the employment of county infirmaries? These institutions were taken over at the time that the union amalgamation schemes went through. In my own county there are two or three officers to whom pensions were passed, but the position is that although some of them are on the brink of the grave they cannot legally get their pensions, of which they are very much in need.

The PRESIDENT

This Bill is not meant to cover cases of that kind.

Question—"That leave be given to introduce the Bill"—put and agreed to.

Second Stage ordered for Friday, July 4th.