I move the Second Stage of the Expiring Laws Bill. This Bill proposes to continue for another year some twenty-one enactments which were continued by last year's Act up to 31st December of the present year. The Acts which it is proposed to continue are all included in last year's Act. There were also in that Act two others—the Licensing Act of 1902 and the Lands Drainage Act of 1914 —which have been replaced by legislation carried through this year.
EXPIRING LAWS BILL, 1925—SECOND STAGE.
This is an old battlefield for contests between the Minister for Finance and myself. We have fought every year for the last two years over these expiring laws, because I have always endeavoured to persuade him that the statutes that governed the use of motor cars and wireless telegraphy should not be temporary statutes passed twenty years ago. The Motor Car Act was passed in 1903. In 1903 the motor car was the rich man's luxury. Now it is a commercial factor of enormous importance and many of the provisions of that Act with regard to speed limits and with regard to the granting of licences are out-of-date and archaic, and ought to be reconsidered. But I am not so unreasonable as to expect the Government to reconsider them before the 31st December. I realise that, owing to circumstances over which they have no control, or less control than they ought to have, their timetable has been much disorganised. I do not say to the Minister, therefore: Bring in and pass a Motor Car Bill between now and Christmas, but I do urge the Minister to go into this question in the coming year. Otherwise, on the understanding of agreeing to an armistice for the present year, I shall have to fight here next year, but for this year I am prepared to allow this Bill to go through without obstruction. The Minister told us that a new Wireless Telegraphy Bill is contemplated. I hope that a new Motor Car Bill is also contemplated and that the necessary inquiries are on foot to enable that Bill to be a good and a useful Bill. I urge the Minister—I do not ask him for a definite pledge—to give some indication that he is going to move in that direction. If that is so I shall not hamper him in getting his Bill through this year.
As the memorandum that I circulated shows, it is anticipated that several of these enactments will not appear in next year's Bill, others of them will, and will continue to be renewed from year to year for some time. The question of new motor legislation is quite complicated. I know it is under consideration in the Department of Local Government, but I could not, nor could the Minister for Local Government, give a promise that there is any certainty at all that anything will be done inside the twelve months.
Will the Minister recognise there is a problem to be met?
That is recognised, and it is under consideration.
Question—"That this Bill be now read a second time"—put and agreed to.
I ask for leave to take the Committee Stage of this Bill now. Agreed.
The Dáil went into Committee.