Dáil Éireann debate -
Friday, 11 Jun 1926

Vol. 16 No. 9

TRADE LOANS (GUARANTEE) (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1926—FIRST STAGE.

MINISTER for INDUSTRY and COMMERCE (Mr. McGilligan)

I move for leave to introduce the Trade Loans (Guarantee) (Amendment) Bill, 1926. The long title fully explains the object of the measure:—

A Bill entitled an Act to extend the limit of time imposed by the Trade Loans (Guarantee) (Amendment) Act, 1925, on the giving of guarantees and the making of loans under the Trade Loans (Guarantee) Act, 1924, and to modify the aggregate capital amounts in respect of which guarantees may be given and of the loans which may be made under the last-mentioned Act.

Leave granted. Bill read a first time.

Mr. JOHNSON

May I suggest that the Second Stage should be deferred till towards the end of next week?

The PRESIDENT

What day do you suggest?

Mr. JOHNSON

Probably Thursday or Friday next.

Mr. McGILLIGAN

There is a special reason why this measure should be taken as early as possible on account of the matter referred to by the Minister for Finance on a recent Vote. I urge that unless the Deputy has some special reason against the proposal the Second Reading should be taken next Tuesday.

Mr. JOHNSON

I did not want to go into reasons. The fact that the matter raised by the Minister for Finance a couple of days ago is to be re-debated in the Seanad is one reason why I think the Second Reading of this Bill should not be taken sooner than I suggest. The second reason is that I anticipate an Interim Report from the Committee of Public Accounts will be presented to the Dáil on matters which will affect the Bill. For those reasons I thought it would be well if we deferred the Second Reading of the measure.

Major COOPER

May I remind the Minister for Industry and Commerce that the Committee Stage of the Finance Bill is fixed for Tuesday, and that it ought to have priority?

Mr. McGILLIGAN

If it were merely for the first reason stated by Deputy Johnson I would again urge that there is great reason to have priority here, for certain remarks that will necessarily arise on Second Reading may have reference to the matter to be debated in the Seanad on Wednesday next. If this Interim Report of the Committee of Public Accounts is going to deal with anything relative to the principle of this measure, I can see a certain reason for the Deputy's point, but I cannot understand how any Interim Report of the Committee of Public Accounts would in any way change the principle of this measure. It might have an effect upon the Committee Stage.

Mr. JOHNSON

I have expressed my view and I feel it is important.

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

When will the Interim Report from the Committee of Public Accounts be available?

Mr. JOHNSON

I think it could not possibly be presented before Wednesday.

Mr. McGILLIGAN

I am prepared to let the Second Reading stand over until Thursday.

The PRESIDENT

If we take the Second Reading on Thursday, I presume there would be no objection to taking the Committee Stage on Friday?

Mr. JOHNSON

That asks me to prejudice the whole question because conceivably the discussion that will arise might alter, or seriously affect, the discussion on the Committee Stage.

The PRESIDENT

I merely draw attention to the fact that we are getting close to our time limit and a delay of a couple of days might mean that the later stages would have to be taken more rapidly than usual.

Mr. McGILLIGAN

The Fourth and Fifth Stages could be taken together.

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

The time between the Second and the Committee Stages is generally the most fruitful.

Second Stage ordered for Thursday, 17th June.