I move:—
"That the Bill be now read a Second Time."
The Bill is intended to make provision for a period of from ten to twelve days during the present month when the Congress will be held in this city. As Deputies will have observed, the Bill deals with certain matters coming under the Department of Local Government, some which ordinarily come under the Department of Finance, and there are, I think, three or perhaps four sections which come under the Department of Justice. This is, as the Title states, a Miscellaneous Provisions Bill. There is really no principle running through it unless one may say that there is the principle of affording special and unusual facilities to our own citizens and to visitors from outside during this period. It would, I think, be easy to make a case for the granting of special facilities for that period.
But so far as the views of various sections of the community have reached me it seems rather unnecessary to labour a case for the granting of special facilities. It is, if not generally conceded, at least conceded by an overwhelming majority, apparently, of our citizens, that special facilities are necessary for this Congress period. For that reason, and for the reason that I propose to ask the House to take the remaining stages of the Bill to-day, perhaps, I should ask your indulgence, sir, to make what is really a Committee Stage speech—that is I will just deal shortly with the various provisions of the Bill rather than put forward arguments as to why the ordinary law should be departed from during this period of about 12 days.
As Deputies will observe, Section 1 of the Bill is, of course, a defining section. I think we need not trouble to take very much time over it. Section 2 of the Bill empowers the Revenue Commissioners to allow into the Irish Free State, free of customs duty, a motor 'bus imported by a resident of the Irish Free State if it can be shown that it will only be used here during the Congress period and then exported. The conditions under which this concession will be given will be prescribed by the Revenue Commissioners and will be designed to protect the revenue against any attempt to make a fraudulent use of any concession given under this section. I might add that an Order has been made by the Minister for Finance giving a somewhat similar concession to motor cars and motor omnibuses imported for the same purpose by persons not resident in the Irish Free State.
Section 3 to 7 deal, or are intended to deal, with the traffic and transport problem during the Congress period. There will be, if anything like the anticipated numbers visit the city, undoubtedly a problem in connection with traffic and transport. It seems desirable, and the only practical way, that some persons should get almost autocratic authority for transport and traffic in this city during that period. It is proposed by the Bill to give that measure of control to the Commissioner of the Gárda Síochána. Probably there will not be any exception taken to that.
Section 3 enables the Commissioner to make such regulations as he thinks necessary for the control of traffic. There will be the difficulty of supplying adequate transport for visitors, and in order to meet that difficulty Clause 4 has been inserted in this Bill. Deputies will observe that by virtue of Clause 4 the Minister for Local Government and Public Health may authorise the use of vehicles which have not been licensed—that is during this period of 12 days.
The importation of a large number of vehicles is, it is understood, in contemplation, and it is considered that it would not be possible to insist on their taking out ordinary road tax licences.
Section 5 deals with the registration of public service vehicles. It is felt that during this period it would not be possible to enforce the ordinary law relating to the registration of public service vehicles.
Section 6 gives the Minister for Local Government and Public Health power to authorise persons to drive motor vehicles notwithstanding the fact that they may not have driving licences. This again, it is understood, is intended to meet the case of persons from abroad. It is thought that difficulty would be found in enforcing the ordinary law. Of course, as will be seen, anyone who has been disqualified from a driving licence is excepted from any benefit conferred by this Clause 6.
Clause 7 makes a similar provision for the drivers and conductors of public service vehicles. It will be seen that the general idea of the sections is to empower the Minister for Local Government and Public Health and the police to deal with any situation that is likely to arise during this period of congestion.
Section 8 has to do with the licensing hours. It has been conceded by practically everyone who has taken an interest in the subject that the existing licensing hours may not be suitable for the large crowds that are expected here in Dublin and the area immediately surrounding Dublin during this Congress Week. It was thought at one time that the Bill might contain specific provisions in giving concessions, but it was felt, after a good deal of inquiry, that it was very difficult, if not impossible, to say in advance exactly what facilities might be necessary. Accordingly, under Section 8, a very wide discretion has been given to the Circuit Judge. The Circuit Judge may fix different hours for different parts of the area affected by the Congress. Some point may be raised in reference to what is ordinarily called the split hour.
It would obviously be undesirable in a Bill of this kind to enter into any discussion of the merits or demerits of the split hour. But it is thought it would be desirable that an officer of the police—a chief superintendent— should suggest to the judge that he ought to make an order permitting licensed houses to be open in the county borough of Dublin between 2.30 and 3.30 in the afternoon. Residents here in Dublin are familiar with the law, but visitors cannot be expected to know what the position is, and they may be seriously inconvenienced by finding licensed houses closed between 2.30 and 3.30 in the afternoon. An extra hour or possibly two hours in the afternoon might also be granted. The Bill, of course, does not propose to grant this to any licensee; it is entirely at the discretion of the Circuit Judge whether he will grant such concessions.
Section 9 deals with exemption orders. It has been suggested that large numbers of people coming here for the Congress may live in hotels in the suburbs, and in Greystones, Malahide and Howth, it will be necessary to make arrangements for additional facilities. The section gives power to the Circuit Court Judge to grant an exemption order to any hotel within twenty miles distance of Dublin. It is an arbitrary radius, but it is felt that in fixing a radius like that it is likely to meet all reasonable requirements during the period.
Section 10 has to do with catering. It is contemplated that catering centres will be established in various parts of the city and surroundings, to supply meals to people who cannot obtain food in their lodgings and for whom existing restaurant facilities may not be sufficient. Under the section licences may be granted by the Circuit Judge for such centres. Under the ordinary law, as I explained recently, in reference to the Cork Fair, occasional licences were granted only for three days at a time and may not extend to Sundays. These restrictions, under the present Bill, are removed during the Congress period, but the Circuit Judge can attach any provision he deems proper to the granting of occasional licences. For instance when granting an occasional licence he might make it a condition that a substantial meal should be supplied with the drink, but there it is a matter entirely for the Circuit Judge who will consider the circumstances of each applicant and district.
Section 11 deals with ships which may be moored in Dublin Bay during Congress week. They will, as has been stated in the papers, be large floating hotels accommodating many foreign visitors who will attend during the period. The section is intended to regularise the supply of intoxicating liquor in vessels moored in the Bay. There is already provision as to the granting of licences to passenger vessels, such as tenders, that will go backwards and forwards between the liners and the quays.
Section 12 has to do with the courts. Deputy Fitzgerald-Kenney put a question on that subject but I think he was not present when I answered. My answer was to the effect that we are meeting the point that was raised by the Deputy in this clause in the Bill. I stated in that answer that the relevant provisions would be found in clause 12 of the Bill; that is the clause I am now referring to. As will be seen, the effect of clause 12 is to make the days of the Congress period what I might call dies non. Of course a rule of court could not possibly effect that or affect statutory periods of limitation, for instance, or any period prescribed by statute although it might authorise a variation. I felt the rules of court were not sufficient to meet the contingency which might easily arise such as I explained already if the statutory period of renewal expired during the twelve days of the proposed period. I think Section 12 is wide enough and comprehensive enough in its terms to meet every contingency that is likely to arise during this period. Having now dealt with the various clauses of the Bill and shown that there is a certain basis for them, I would ask the House to give the Bill a Second Reading.
I may say, apart from any explanation I have given, that the Bill has been the subject of investigation for a considerable time by a joint departmental committee. While representations from every section of the community may not have been heard I think they have been ascertained and brought to the minds of the members of the departmental committee. The Bill gives effect to these demands so far as they seemed reasonable.
