I have a short memorandum here on the point, and as it is quite brief I will read the paragraph which relates to this particular Order. It is semi-historical, and in the end explains some of the purposes of the said Order. But really the Order explains itself. The Order was presented on the 17th July, and it was before Deputies for some period, and I thought it might have been appreciated by them. The point is that the Blackrock Urban District Council obtained an Electric Lighting Order in 1901 through the British Parliament. The Order was continued in force by the British Board of Trade and Electricity Commissioners, but the Council contends that it has not been in a position to proceed with the work, and that it is not in a position to do so this year. It is claimed that by giving power to transfer statutory rights possessed by the Council an arrangement may be entered into with some other local authority, or with some company or person, to provide a supply of electricity to the people of the area.
As the only alternative would appear to be the revocation of the original Blackrock Electric Lighting Order, the securing of which had involved the ratepayers in substantial expense, it has been felt right to make the Order now submitted in order to provide the local council with power to negotiate for a supply by other parties. The rights of the ratepayers of the area are adequately safeguarded by the terms of the Order as the parties to whom it is proposed to make the transfer must first be approved by the Minister, and subsequently all the terms and conditions of the deed of transfer must receive similar approval. Approval must be given to the terms and conditions of the deed of transfer, and this Order actually went before the Dáil or was made on the 26th March, 1923, but could not be approved finally until the Electricity Commissioners (Transfer of Functions Order), 1924, was made by the Executive Council on the 19th June, this year, under the provisions of the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924. There is one clause I would draw attention to. It is a clause definitely inserted not only in this Bill, but in every scheme for the development of power in the country. The object is to hold over all such schemes and orders of this type for incorporation in any national scheme that may afterwards arise requiring the parties on whose behalf the orders are made to take a supply of electricity in bulk from a central power station if such supply be made available, at a cost equal to or less than the local cost of generation. The arrangement of the clauses of the Order itself describes the purpose pretty well. The first clause is the short title. The second clause deals with the incorporation of the Electric Lighting (Clauses) Act, 1899. The third clause describes who the undertakers are. The next clause deals with the area of supply. The fifth clause deals with power to break up streets, etc. There is a clause as to compulsory works. There is also a clause dealing with maximum prices, the transfer of undertaking, etc. Then there is the question of the relation to the Dublin Corporation, the Dublin Tramways Co., and the Alliance and Dublin Consumers' Gas Company.
