I move that the Constitution (Consequential Provisions) Bill be now read a Second Time. As Deputies are aware, on the 29th of this month the present Constitution will have been repealed and the legislative, executive and judicial functions of the State will begin to be operated under the new Constitution. Article 50 of the Constitution provides fully for the continuance of all laws at present in force, so far as they are not inconsistent with the present Constitution. It is necessary, however, to have some adaptation of existing enactments so as to ensure that the change in the constitutional position will take effect as smoothly as possible.
In future, the legislative, executive and judicial authorities of the State will be those established by or functioning under the new Constitution, not those established by or functioning under the Constitution of Saorstát Eireann. The Central Fund and the Exchequer will be the Central Fund and Exchequer of Ireland and no longer the Central Funa and Exchequer of Saorstát Eireann. The object of this Bill is to link up the new Governmental authorities and the new Central Fund and Exchequer with those at present existing and to make or provide for the making of such adaptations as may be necessary for that purpose.
A somewhat similar situation arose on the setting up of the Free State in 1922 and at that time an Adaptation of Enactments Act was passed to deal with the situation. Section 11 of that Act of 1922 provided for a general adaptation of references to Government Departments, and Section 12 gave power to the Executive Council to make further general or specific adaptations of statutes. Similarly, Section 4 of the Bill now before the House provides for the general adaptation of references to officials and authorities, and Section 5 gives power to the Government to make special adaptations and modifications. I do not think that it is necessary for me at this stage to go beyond the general explanation I have given. Those are the main points of the Bill and its object is merely to bridge over the position and, as I have said, to provide for its smoother working. Any points that may arise in regard to the detailed provisions of the Bill can be dealt with more appropriately in the Committee Stage.