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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 May 1935

Vol. 56 No. 12

Public Business. - Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill, 1935—Final Stages.

The amendments tabled by the Minister to this Bill raise a certain difficulty for the Chair. The established practice has been to confine amendments on Report Stage to matters arising directly out of proceedings in Committee, whether arising from actual amendments offered for that stage or as a result of undertakings given by the Minister. In this instance it might be contended, and the Chair would have considerable sympathy with the contention, that the Ministerial amendments do not come within that category. They do, however, arise directly out of the subject matter of the Bill and merely qualify in certain respects the powers proposed to be given under Sections 2 and 4 of the Bill. The Chair is allowing the amendments, but reiterates the view previously expressed in connection with the Moneylenders Bill, 1933, that amendments such as these should be submitted on the Committee Stage.

The remarks of the Chair create a certain difficulty for me in moving the amendments, because I am advised, and believe, that in fact they effect no change in the Bill at all, that they are merely drafting changes designed to make clear that the sections of the Bill give to the Electricity Supply Board power to lay lines above ground. The view I hold, and the view held by people advising me in these matters, is that the amendments are not necessary, but the Electricity Supply Board are of opinion that they want to have all possible doubts removed. I think it is desirable that they should be removed by the insertion of these words which do not, in fact, create any change in their powers, but merely make it more explicit that they have these powers.

It has been decided by the court that they have not the powers.

It has nothing to do with that.

The Minister, of course, is aware that a very vital amendment got through the Oireachtas on the ground that it was a mere verbal amendment.

That is the amendment that caused the land annuities row.

The following Government amendments were agreed to:—

In page 1, Section 2 (1), line 28, after the word "power" to insert the words "to lay such lines above ground at any height and also power."

In page 1, Section 2 (2), line 42, after the word "power" to insert the words "to lay such lines above ground at any height and also a like power."

In page 2, Section 4, line 24, after the word "laid" to insert the words "above ground."

Amendment No. 3 is not in order, and the Deputy has been so notified.

If there is no objection, it is proposed to take the Final Stages of the Bill to-day.

Question —"That the Bill, as amended, be received for final consideration"—agreed to.

Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."

Is there any hope that there will be a remission of the 25 per cent. increase made by the Electricity Supply Board some time ago in their charges?

The Electricity Supply Board alone is responsible for the charges for electricity. The Board is charged by statute with the responsibility of fixing such rates as will be sufficient to cover its working expenses and certain reserves. It is prohibited from making a profit. The policy in that regard is a matter for the Board, on whom the responsibility must be fully placed.

You are only asked to prophesy.

In view of the improved position of the Electricity Supply Board in the last couple of years, there is every hope.

In cases where increased numbers of poles and better poles and better overhead wirings have been erected by the Electricity Supply Board, these have been valued at a very much higher rate than the valuation on the poles or way-leaves of the private companies that were taken over by the Electricity Supply Board. The position is that the local bodies are debarred from getting any additional rates out of the increased valuations. They can only get the rates on the valuation of the old undertakings and that position is likely to cause great hardship. In some towns the new valuation is placed on the books but there is no power to get the increased rate. I am sure the Minister for Local Government will back me up in trying to help local authorities to get relief in this matter. I think it was a terrible oversight in the original Act. Perhaps the Minister on some future occasion will consider the position of local authorities in this matter.

The Deputy is raising a big issue on narrow ground. We could not admit on principle the right of local authorities to levy rates on poles, because that principle might be extended to Ardnacrusha.

These are purely local matters?

Quite so.

Question agreed to.

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