There was an amendment on the Order Paper to Section 4 in the name of Deputy MacDermot. This amendment seems to me to come into the same category as the Fair Wages Clause on which a ruling was given from the Chair some months ago. It is an amendment that would have been equally relevant or irrelevant applied to any Bill similar to the one now before the House. It seems to me that, if the opinion of the House were desired on the question of Irish in relation to various classes of persons brought into legislative measures, a Cement Bill, or any similar Bill, it might be tested by way of a motion. If Government policy is to be decided it should be expressed by way of an ad hoc measure. It is most inadvisable to bring such amendment in on this Bill and I rule it out of order.
Moneylenders (No. 2) Bill, 1933—Committee Stage.
May I point out that this is merely the restoration of a clause that existed in the Moneylenders Bill of 1922 as it was introduced and that it is merely applying a condition to the issue of licences to this class which is being applied to various other classes in the community. I submit that it is surely in order to suggest the inclusion of such a condition with regard to this class of people.
May I support that contention on the following ground? In the first place, a Moneylenders Bill was introduced into this House as a Private Member's Bill. It went to a special committee and I think it lapsed but was resurrected and had this clause in it. The Government introduced a special measure of their own and it is following out the practice of the Oireachtas in connection with these professions, such as solicitors and, now, moneylenders. The Oireachtas has already expressed a decision in favour of the measure and, in consequence, I think this ought to be included.
May I remark that in regard to this particular matter I received a moneylender's circular. I had often received them before, couched in very different terms, and offering me large sums of money on my note of hand alone, but this circular was of a peremptory nature and was to the effect that the Irish qualification must be removed from the Bill. I hope that it was not intimidation of that kind, in case they might need in the future to have recourse to moneylenders, that caused the Fianna Fáil Party to ask for its withdrawal.
I have had no circulars on the matter. Reference has been made to the fact that not this particular amendment, but one of a more restricted nature appeared in the original Bill. The House, of course, is considering the Bill now before it, not the Bill that has been withdrawn. I might say, incidentally, that in the Bill as read a Second Time there are no provisions regarding the age or the educational or linguistic qualifications of persons to whom a licence might be given. This amendment is exactly on a par with the "Fair Wages Clause" and should not be advanced on a Bill of this nature. Reference has also been made to the fact that such a provision was inserted in Acts affecting certain professional classes. I feel sure that the Deputy would not put these classes on a par. I shall not allow the amendment to be moved.
When will the Report Stage be taken?
Now.
A ruling has just been given by you, sir, on the question of Irish. It raises quite a number of other questions as to whether nationality and other things could be brought into a Bill of this kind. In view of the circumstances, perhaps the Report Stage might be postponed until next week so that the question might be further examined.
Objection is taken to the Report Stage being proceeded with now.
Put it down for this day week.