DAIL IN COMMITTEE. - OIL IN NAVIGABLE WATERS BILL, 1925.—THIRD STAGE.
1.—In this Act—
the word "oil" means oil of any description, and includes spirit produced from oil, and oil mixed with water, and spirit (produced from oil) mixed with water;
the word "vessel" includes any ship or boat or any other description of vessel used in navigation;
the word "master" when used in relation to any vessel means the person having the command or charge of the vessel for the time being;
the word "harbour" means any harbour, whether natural or artificial, and includes any port, dock, estuary or arm of the sea, any river or canal navigable by sea-going vessels, and any waters in which sea-going vessels can obtain shelter or ship or unship goods or passengers; the expression "harbour authority" includes all persons or bodies of persons, corporate or unincorporate, being proprietors of or entrusted with the duty or invested with the power of constructing, improving, managing, regulating, or maintaining a harbour;
the expression "harbour master" includes any person appointed by a harbour authority for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Act; the word "barge" includes a lighter or like vessel;
the verb "transfer" when used in relation to oil means transfer in bulk, and cognate words shall be constructed accordingly;
the expression "local authority" means the council of a county, county borough, or urban district, or the sanitary authority of a port;
the expression "petroleum spirit" means refined petroleum which is subject to rapid evaporation and which, when tested in the manner prescribed by the Petroleum Act, 1879, or any enactment amending that Act, gives off an inflammable vapour at a temperature of less than 73 degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer;
the expression "the Minister" means the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
I beg to move:
"In line 36, after the word "means" to insert the words "and includes," and in line 37 to delete the word "or" where it secondly occurs and substitute the words "the commissioners of a town and."
The effect of the amendment is to give to Town Commissioners the same powers as are proposed to be given under the Bill to County Boroughs or Urban Councils.
I want to know whether we are in a position to take this Bill on Committee Stage at all to-day. I find that under Standing Order 80 "a Bill which has passed the Second Reading shall, by motion made without notice or debate, be referred to the Dáil sitting in Committee or to a special Committee for detailed consideration." I find that Standing Order 89 says: "Any Bill not disposed of within the session then current, may, upon resolution of the Dáil, be carried over in any completed stage to the next session." That just raises the question, are we entering into a session now or has the session that began in 1923 been yet concluded?
My position is that I am afraid the session which began in September, 1923, has not yet concluded.
MR. CONNOR HOGAN
Then are we acting in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution which says that a session must be held every year?
A session has been held every year.
The Deputy is getting into deeper water now. That is another question.
Amendment put and agreed to.
Section 1, as amended, put and agreed to.
Remaining sections of the Bill and Title passed through Committee without amendment.
