I beg to move that the leave of the Dáil be granted to have printed and circulated the Dublin Reconstruction (Emergency Provisions) (Amendment) Bill, 1925. It is a Bill to amend the Dublin Reconstruction (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1924. The object is to enable the powers given to the Dublin Corporation under that Act to be exercised at an earlier date. The date originally fixed was two years after the principal Act came into operation. This will enable the powers to be exercised three months after the passing of this Bill.
DUBLIN RECONSTRUCTION (EMERGENCY PROVISIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1925—FIRST STAGE.
Leave granted.
Bill read a first time.
I would like the Second Stage to be taken on Friday, if the Dáil agrees; it is a rather important measure.
What is the urgency for this Bill?
There are two or three points which would appeal to Deputies if they had the measure before them. It is intended, as the Minister says, to expedite the building on sites where property was destroyed either in 1922 or, in certain cases, in 1916. It also remedies a certain infirmity which was not foreseen and which only recently came under notice in connection with the compensation paid to, or advantages to be derived by, persons who held leases in respect of certain property. What has happened is that in a few cases landlords got paid rents and rates in one amount. Under a recent provision of the Local Government Act it was intended to give the benefit of the lower rate for a few years to the tenant in occupation. In the case of this measure provision is being made for the tenant to get that advantage which, in the ordinary way, would have accrued to the landlord. As the landlord was not under any exceptional expense in connection with the matter, it was thought only fair to make the position of the tenant secure.
The Bill will be circulated to-morrow.
Second Stage ordered for Friday, July 3rd.