I move:—
Go ndeontar suim Bhreise ná raghaidh thar £10 chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníochta i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1936, chun Tuarastail agus Costaisí Oifig an Aire Rialtais Aitiúla agus Sláinte Puiblí, maraon le Deontaisí agus Costaisí eile a bhaineann le Tógáil Tithe, Deontaisí d'Udaráis Aitiúla, Ildeontaisí Ilghnéitheacha agus Ildeontaisí i gCabhair, agus costaisí áirithe bhaineann le hOispidéil.
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, 1936, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health, including Grants and other Expenses in connection with Housing, Grants to Local Authorities, sundry Miscellaneous Grants and Grants-in-Aid, and certain charges connected with Hospitals.
The first item in the Supplementary Estimate is a sum of £700, expenses in connection with the Local Government (Dublin) Tribunal. The second item is a sum of £200, expenses in connection with the Therapeutic Substances Act, 1932. Under Section 101 of the Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1930, that is, the Act which made it mandatory on the Minister for Local Government to set up this tribunal to inquire into the working of the Greater Dublin Act passed in that year, the amount provided, £700, is to cover the remuneration of the chairman of the tribunal, the cost of reporting evidence at meetings of the tribunal, and the cost of accommodation for the holding of meetings. The meetings are held in the offices of the Law Society at the Four Courts. The charge for holding meetings is £1 per day. The chairman is paid £10 10s. per day. It is not possible to say when the tribunal will conclude its sittings.
The item of expenditure in regard to the Therapeutic Substances Act was caused in the following way: The Act provides for the regulation of the manufacture, importation and sale of therapeutic substances, including prophylactic and diagnostic substances, whether used in the treatment of human or animal diseases, so as to ensure proper supervision of substances whose technical purity and potency have to be determined by experiment rather than by chemical examination. The technical work is carried out by Professor W. D. O'Kelly, who holds the part-time posts of general consultant bacteriologist to the Department and director of the vaccine branch. This work consists of the exploration of problems arising in connection with the testing of samples, of dealing with correspondence on application for import licences, and advising the Department on all questions of technical importance. It entails very close study of current scientific literature dealing with problems outside matters which are required for Professor O'Kelly's ordinary work as bacteriologist. Much of the literature is from foreign journals—French and German. A close study of the publications of the League of Nations is essential to keep abreast of new developments. He has to prepare toxins for use when testing. The preparation of a suitable toxin alone has taken six months before it can be adopted with assurance as to its suitability as a test toxin. All this entails a very considerable amount of laboratory work. Many months of close and unremitting work will similarly be required in the preparation of other test toxins, and the media required for carrying out the preparation. Very special care and attention have to be devoted to the sterilising and preparation of supplies of diluents, glass ware, etc. A careful system of records has to be kept of every laboratory operation. As inspector under the Act he inspects premises of manufacturers, and this involves travelling to England and the Continent when imports of therapeutic substances from these countries are necessary.
Vote agreed to and ordered to be reported.