Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Mar 1935

Vol. 55 No. 5

Committee on Finance. - Vote No. 38—Circuit Court.

Mr. Ruttledge

I move:—

Go ndeontar suim Bhreise ná raghaidh thar £10 chun íochtha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1935, chun Tuarastail agus Liúntaisí agus Costaisí Oifigeach Cúirte Cuarda, Leas-Bhreithiún gCuarda agus Udarásanna Clárathachta Aitiúla áirithe agus chun costaisí Athfhéachainte Liostaí Vótálaithe agus Coisteoirí (Uimh. 27 de 1926, etc.).

That a Supplementary sum not exceeding £10 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1935, for the Salaries, Allowances and Expenses of Circuit Court Officers, Deputy Circuit Judges and certain Local Registering Authorities; and the Expenses of Revision of Voters' and Jurors' Lists (No. 27 of 1926, etc.).

The necessity for this Estimate arises almost entirely from the fact that the expenses incurred by the county registrars for that portion of their duties that relates to the enforcement of court judgments have been much larger than was anticipated. So far as moneys voted by this House are concerned the additional sum is merely a formal or book-keeping transaction, because when the amounts of the decrees are recovered they include the costs incurred at the outset, namely, the lodgment fees, etc. Apart from the abnormal volume of land annuities work, the State had to take over during the present financial year the work of the under-sheriff for County Kerry who died during the year. This involves a considerable increase in gross expenditure as the State now pays the clerk and bailiffs, who were formerly the private employees of the under-sheriff. A large proportion of the gross increase in the State expenditure is due to the employment of 15 additional whole-time court messengers whose additional wages amount to between £50 and £60 per week. Concurrently with that there is an increase in the travelling and incidental expenses. In various parts of the country additional part-time court messengers have been employed, as and when required, and their pay and expenses add to the total.

Professor O'Sullivan

Will the Minister explain item E—Court Orders?

Mr. Ruttledge

The Appropriations-in-Aid? We anticipate that the moneys will come back from these decrees.

Professor O'Sullivan

The warrants are Court Orders?

Mr. Ruttledge

Yes. Perhaps I should explain item D—Telegrams and Telephones—£50. That was an item that was arranged as the county registrar in Mullingar wanted to have a telephone installed between his office and the military barracks. Then it was stated that it was not necessary and I do not think that £50 will be required.

Professor O'Sullivan

As the Minister has explained, the principal purpose of the Vote, especially as regards one particular county, is to enable duties that were hitherto performed by the sheriff to be performed by the registrar under the recent Land Act. One of the points that possibly might be adverted to in that connection is that a great deal of additional work has actually been thrown on the registrars over the country. They have been asked, in connection with Section 28, I think it is, of the Land Act of 1933, to take on a great deal of additional work and, as far as I know, they have got no remuneration for that. Some of that additional work is exceedingly unpleasant. But there is another aspect of the case. The House is asked to vote money—it does not matter whether the sum is £3,000 or £4,000 or £10—for the purpose of collecting the land annuities in this particular way. This side of the House has always objected to that particular method of collecting land annuities. We objected to it when the Bill was going through the House, and we object to that particular method still. We think that in the actual circumstances now existing in this country the House should not pass any Vote to facilitate the Ministry in collecting those land annuities, considering the condition of the farmers who have to meet——

Mr. MacEntee

£300 in the bank and £2,000 in tobacco shares, and cannot pay £14!

Professor O'Sullivan

I am referring to the people as to whom the Minister's colleague in the debate last week pointed out that their farms could raise nothing but small cattle and that these cattle were practically uneconomic. They can raise nothing else except cattle and milk. Hence he has to pay a price of 22/- per cwt. for these cattle and then sell them afterwards at the rate of 12/-. It is to these people that I refer. I can well understand that the Minister has not these people in mind. His thoughts do not run along the particular hardships they are suffering. As I pointed out, one of the particular counties referred to is the county that the Minister's colleague has admitted has been reduced, or a certain portion of it has been reduced, to beggary by the policy of the Government. Consequently, we object to this particular Vote as, in the circumstances, a Vote to which the House should not consent. I gather from the interruption of the Minister for Finance that Ministers take up the attitude that the farmers are able to pay.

Mr. MacEntee

That one, anyway.

Professor O'Sullivan

There is more than one farmer in this country.

Mr. MacEntee

I do not mean the one on the other benches.

Mr. Cosgrave

There is not one at the present moment over there.

Professor O'Sullivan

I move to report progress.

Progress reported, the Committee to sit again to-morrow.