Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Friday, 20 Mar 1931

Vol. 37 No. 16

Tourist Traffic (Development) Bill, 1931—Second Stage.

The purpose of this Bill is two-fold. Under the Local Government Act of 1925 certain aid was given to Tourist Development Associations of a recognised character under the auspices of the local authorities, but two points of difficulty have emerged with regard to the particular section of that Act, which gave power to local authorities to strike rates for the purpose of helping recognised associations who were going to aid tourist development. One was, they could only strike a rate as was the ordinary thing from year to year, and that rate was struck at a period which did not coincide with the period in which any tourist development association would require to have money in hands for the purpose of making plans ahead. The second was whatever rate was struck had to be expended, and then the terms of the 1925 Act seemed to give wide discretion, but as they have been interpreted the purpose has been limited to a single thing, that is advertising, as the term is commonly known, the amenities of certain districts. We propose in this Bill mainly to do two things. We give the local authorities power to enter into agreements for the striking of a rate over a period of five years, so if they like to enter into such commitments with any tourist development association which may be recognised they will have better security with regard to income than where previously a rate had to be struck, and the proceeds given from year to year. And secondly, the purposes for which these moneys may be expended are now enlarged. We have not merely advertising, but any purpose as long as it is sanctioned by a particular Minister. The schemes, of course, will all have to be approved, and will be subject to scrutiny of the auditor and all the rest as hitherto.

The main purpose is to relieve the Tourist Development Association of any offer which may come along in this way. They will be given power to expend whatever moneys may be collected from local authorities in other ways than the narrow and rigid one of advertising. The Bill is cast in a particular way. Although it does not impose a third point, it rather points towards a third thing. Previously a local authority had power to strike a rate and then advertise themselves, or jointly with some other local authority, or they might hand over the proceeds of the rate to some recognised Association. It is not imposed by this Bill, but the tendency is, for the future, the handing over the moneys so raised to a recognised Association will be the first matter; but there is not taken away from the local authority the question of expending the money themselves by way of advertising or otherwise, themselves or jointly with other authorities. But if they propose to act in the second way, then that is subject to the control of the Minister for Local Government. These are the main objects of the Bill.

Will the Minister explain what is meant by sub-section 3 of Section 2:

"The Minister may, at any time, by notice in writing served on a company in respect of which a certificate of approval has been granted, revoke, without assigning any reason, such certificate, and as on and from the date of the service of such notice such certificate shall cease to be in force."

What is the meaning of taking that power "without assigning any reason"? It seems rather an extraordinary provision.

That is a point that had been raised by some local authorities in an informal way. What is actually being hinted at is, if an association be on the point of becoming bankrupt the Minister will have power to wind up the company and prevent it from getting any further moneys, because the moneys to be voted by local authorities are apportionable more or less day by day. This is to give the Minister power to come down on an association if he thinks there is any of the dangers attaching to a company, and particularly the danger of bankruptcy. Clearly, it would not be right to assign that as a reason, as it might be bankruptcy that was feared.

Could not this happen under that provision? From the 1st of April a council may be under a contract to pay over a sum to one of these approved associations for the following quarter. Towards the end of the quarter the Minister may withdraw approval and the council is still under contract to pay that money. It may be paying practically the whole quarter without getting any return.

No. I think if the Deputy reads the whole sections of the Bill he will see that that cannot occur. The moneys are apportionable over the year almost on a day to day basis. The council will only pay where it is in fact getting value from the particular association. The whole object of the sub-section to which the Deputy is referring is to take care that the moneys of the local authorities will be expended in a proper way and will only be expended through the medium of a recognised association that seems to have financial stability. It is really a Committee point that the Deputy is urging. I would ask him to read that sub-section with the other later sections that deal with finance and I think he will find the points met.

Question—"That the Bill be read a Second Time" put and agreed to.
Committee Stage ordered for Wednesday next.
Top
Share