Before we proceed with the business on the Orders of the Day, I would like the President to tell us what business it is proposed to take later this week, and what the order of business will be after this week, so that Deputies might have some idea of the matters that will be coming before them.
ORDER OF BUSINESS.
I have received from the Chairman of the Deputy's party—if that is the correct description —a request that the motion that is down for consideration to-morrow be postponed to the following day. If we reach the end of the agenda, as it is here to-day, I will ask the Dáil to adjourn until to-morrow week, and we will take the motion then. That motion is on the agenda for to-morrow. That would mean that we would take it up on to-morrow week instead of to-day.
There are two Bills that I would like to introduce if we are going to adjourn this evening. One is the Dáil Courts (Winding-Up) Bill, and another is the Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Bill. That would enable us to adjourn after finishing the work on the agenda. I would request the permission of the Dáil to sit late to-night so that we can finish that work and adjourn until to-morrow week.
I think that this is a suggestion which ought not be made to the Dáil. The Deputies have come from the country in the belief that they would have business to do. For one thing, that is obviously a charge upon the revenue. It is very inconvenient to Deputies to come up here. After expecting to be here for two or three days, or at any rate, say, until Friday, they are now told they are to sit late to-night and adjourn for a week. Surely that is not a reasonable proposition. The Minister for Justice told us a little while ago that a Bill was ready with respect to Dublin Street Trading, but that he did not wish to bring it forward because of Parliamentary time. Now, here is an opportunity that the Minister could avail of to introduce that Bill and explain it. Some of the Bills that have now been placed on the Order Paper are of importance, and, I understand, the President's request is that we should pass them forthwith. I do not know whether I am right in that, but I took it to mean that we should suspend the Standing Orders with regard to these Bills and pass them without any further question. I, for one, protest against this method of doing business.
Is there any suggestion of doing any more business than there is on the Order Paper to-day?
The Dáil Courts (Winding-Up) Bill is not on the agenda, and it is obvious that the mere introduction of a measure does not give us business for Wednesday or Thursday. The Local Government Bill is not yet finished in the Seanad. It was anticipated that it would be back from the Seanad. I do not wish to rush the business this evening, but I think it would suit the convenience of the Deputies, if we sit late to-night in order to get the First Reading of these Bills through. It would suit the convenience of the Deputies by enabling them to get away sooner.
I think the President has overlooked the fact that the less work we do now the more work we shall have to do in June and July. We shall have legislation crowded up with Estimates, and we shall have to sit late at night, and we shall be subject to the strain which we all know injured the health of more than one Minister last year. There are many Bills which ought be ready. There is, for instance, the Street Trading and Traffic Bill, and the Bill for the Regulation of Copyright, Patents, and Trade Marks, which was promised 18 months ago. It was in draft, to my knowledge, more than a year ago. There is also the Army Bill—a Bill that has got to be put through before March, as the present Act will have expired before that time. Nobody grudges the Ministers their holidays. But surely there must have been some laxity in the Departments concerned when they failed to have these measures ready so that the Dáil could be going on with them. By all means, what we have to avoid is the crowding of work at the end of the Session.
The Deputy is rather missing the point that if all these Bills of which he speaks were ready and if their First Reading were moved to-day, that would not assist in providing business for Wednesday and Thursday of the current week. The proposal is to finish the business on the Order Paper to-day, in addition to moving the First Reading of one Bill which has not appeared on the Order Paper to-day, and after that is gone through, that we adjourn until next week. It is proposed to take the First Reading of two Bills to-day.
The Minister for Justice, acting for the President, promised, previous to the Recess, that a statement would be made on the reassembly of the Dáil, with regard to the Government's legislative intentions. We have not had that statement. Had such a statement been presented us, the Dáil would have had an opportunity of discussing that future legislative programme. At the same time, the Minister for Justice indicated that an Army Pensions Amendment Bill would be introduced. We have heard nothing about that, and, apparently, there is no intention on the part of the Government to introduce it. There was also a promise made in regard to a Drainage Bill. It is only reasonable that some explanation would be forthcoming now in regard to all those promised measures.
Deputy Davin has covered the very point regarding which I put the question. It is not merely what is before us now I was anxious to learn about, but what the general plan of business is for the immediate future. It would be greatly to the convenience of Deputies to have information on that matter.
Will the Ministry tell us whether it is intended to introduce a Bill dealing with Army Pensions arising out of sickness and incapacity following service? It has been promised definitely, but I would like to know whether that promise is to be fulfilled, or if it is the intention of the Ministry not to introduce such a Bill. If it is their intention to introduce a Bill on those lines, how soon will its introduction take place? Further, I would like to know what is the intention regarding the Army Bill. As Deputy Cooper has pointed out, that will have to be considered at a very early stage. It is necessarily a very voluminous measure, as it intends to establish the Army. I believe it has two or three thousand sections—I really do not know the exact number. At any rate, it is a very heavy measure. It was passed temporarily without any discussion; but now we are entitled to know the intentions of the Ministry in regard to the Army.
I would like to refer, also, to promised measures touching upon copyrights and patents, flags and Board of Trade questions. We would like to have some information from the Ministry regarding those things. We were promised some of those Bills last year, or rather at the opening of the 1923-24 Session. I think even some of them were promised—although I am not quite sure—in the previous Dáil. Then, again, there has been promised a Bill dealing with compulsory school attendance. Can we have some information regarding those several matters of very great importance? The Minister for Justice has told us that even if they got a First Reading we could not deal with them this week. At any rate, we would have at least a longer time to read and think about them than has been the practice in regard to other Bills in the past.
Practically all the Bills mentioned by Deputy Johnson are on the Schedule for introduction. I have already explained that the Army Pensions Amendment Bill is a very complicated measure. It has not been easy to settle a great many points that arose in connection with it. It will not be possible, for the moment, to introduce a permanent Defence Forces Bill, and I believe the present Act will have to be continued in force until the new Bill is introduced somewhere in the Spring. With regard to the other measures referred to, they are on the Schedule for introduction, and they include a Bill in regard to school attendance. Those measures are not yet ready for actual introduction.
Deputies may complain that time may be limited in regard to their consideration, but it must be remembered that all those measures require very careful consideration before their introduction. The Bill in regard to the Army is most exhaustive. The Dáil will be asked to adopt the Defence Forces Act for another period. It will be necessary to reintroduce that measure and have it adopted for a little while longer. That will allow time for greater consideration of the permanent measure. It is also intended to set apart certain days for the consideration of Estimates. It is not anticipated that there will be any rush towards the end of the Session as there was last year.
Can the Minister for Finance say when he expects to be able to circulate some of the Estimates?
They will be circulated about the middle of March.
As it appears to be a foregone conclusion that we will adjourn this evening for a week, perhaps the Minister for Industry and Commerce will, before the Dáil concludes, make some announcement in regard to the future working of the Dublin and Lucan Tramway Further, perhaps he might make some announcement regarding reciprocal arrangement for unemployment insurance between the Northern and British Governments. Those matters are of importance to the city of Dublin, and there is a certain urgency about them. If we adjourn now for a week without knowing the position in regard to those matters, it will create the feeling outside that we are neglectful.
Can the President tell us if the Executive Council has decided to make any statement regarding the future legislative programme, or if it is, as it appears to be, the intention to announce legislative programmes from public platforms rather than in the Dáil?
I am not aware that there has been any pronouncement from public platforms in regard to our proposed legislation. I am endeavouring to get the information required presented in such a way to the Dáil that it will afford satisfaction to Deputies, and that it will be possible to have it fully considered and carried out with the least possible delay.
Will the President tell us if it is his intention to consult with the Committee on Privileges and Procedure in order that there might be some kind of provisional timetable prepared in regard to future business?
The Deputy will be pleased to know that I had a brain-wave of that kind last week.
Splendid.
May I expect some answer from the Minister for Industry and Commerce in regard to the points I have raised?
The Deputy accompanied a deputation to my Department on one of the matters to which he has referred, and received an answer which appeared to be satisfactory to him. Apparently, it is no longer so. I gather the deputation arrived at a conclusion—a conclusion with which I agree—that there is not going to be any working of the Dublin and Lucan Tramway for at least one month. An adjournment of the Dáil for one week will not prejudice the future working of the tramway to any extent. In regard to reciprocal arrangements over insurance benefit, that is a matter that I have informed the Dáil about on many occasions. I have nothing new to add to what I said prior to the Recess. The Patents Bill that has been the subject of reference here has been in draft for a long time. It has been subjected to certain queries and has been altered. I cannot say that it will be ready for introduction for at least one month.
May I take it that as the Minister has nothing to add on the question of reciprocity, he is going to leave matters as they are and go no further? Will the two thousand Irish sailors and firemen engaged on British ships be in the meantime deprived of all benefits under the Insurance Acts?
It is not necessary for me to answer all the impressions that Deputy Byrne may get from answers that I make. It is not, of course, my intention to stand still on anything that requires attention. But with regard to the seamen, I may say again that people who do not pay contributions to the Insurance Fund are not prejudiced if they do not receive help from the fund.
It is a matter for the Government to help them out of their difficulty.
Is the Minister for Justice in a position to make any announcement in regard to his intentions in connection with the setting up of the Liquor Commission, and the terms of reference?
It is possible that I may be able to make a statement before we adjourn this evening. I have asked nine persons to act on this Commission, and I have received replies from all but two. When I hear from these two persons I will announce the personnel and the terms of reference. It is expected that the Commission will be able to hold its first sitting next week.
I move:—
"That the Dáil sit later than 8.30 this evening, if necessary, and that the adjournment be taken not later than 10.30."
I think that this is the best opportunity to take an experimental division. I oppose the motion.
Question put.
The Dáil divided: Tá, 42; Níl, 10.
Tá
- Earnán Altún.
- Richard H. Beamish.
- Earnán de Blaghd.
- Séamus Breathnach.
- Seoirse de Bhulbh.
- Séamus de Búrca.
- Sir James Craig.
- Louis J. D'Alton.
- Máighréad Ní Choileáin.
- Bean Uí Dhrisceóil.
- Seán de Faoite.
- Darrell Figgis.
- Desmond Fitzgerald.
- John Good.
- William Hewat.
- Liam T. MacCosgair.
- Maolmhuire Mac Eochadha.
- Patrick MacGilligan.
- Eoin Mac Néill.
- Seoirse Mac Niocaill.
- Liam Mag Aonghusa.
- Patrick J. Mulvany.
- Martin M. Nally.
- Michael K. Noonan.
- Peadar O hAodha.
- Mícheál O hAonghusa.
- Ailfrid O Broin.
- Seán O Bruadair.
- Conchubhair O Conghaile.
- Séamus O Cruadhlaoich.
- Tadhg S. O Donnabháin.
- Peadar S. O Dubhghaill.
- Eamon S. O Dúgáin.
- Donchadh S. O Guaire.
- Séamus O Leadáin.
- Fionán O Loingsigh.
- Pádraic O Máille.
- Risteárd O Maolchatha.
- Seán M. O Súilleabháin.
- Caoimhghín O hUigín.
- Seán Priomhdhail.
- Patrick W. Shaw.
- Liam Thrift.
Níl
- David Hall.
- Séamus Mac Cosgair.
- Tomás Mac Eoin.
- Pádraig Mac Fhlannchadha.
- Tomás de Nógla.
- Tomás O Conaill.
- Aodh O Cúlacháin.
- Liam O Daimhín.
- Tadhg P. O Murchadha.
- Pádraig O hOgáin (An Clár).
Tellers: Tá, Mr. Dolan and Mr. Sears; Níl, Major Cooper and Mr. Morrissey.
Motion declared carried.