asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will now state when he intends setting up the statutory enquiry into the whole question of harbours and harbour authorities in the Saorstát referred to in his speech on this question in the Dáil on May 29th, 1925; whether such commission will investigate harbour development and the question of the constitution of harbour authorities, their powers and their methods of administration, etc.; whether such commission will have power to call witnesses on oath, and whether, in view of the national importance of the matter, he will see that the setting up of this commission is expedited.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PROPOSED HARBOURS COMMISSION.
The Executive Council is prepared to move a resolution in each House of the Oireachtas to the effect that it is expedient that a tribunal be established to enquire, as a matter of urgent public importance, into the matters referred to in the question. Should that resolution be adopted by the Dáil and Seanad it would then be possible to establish a tribunal under the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act, 1921, and to confer on it powers to summon witnesses and to examine them on oath and to require the production of documents.