Vol. 70 No. 1
I move:—
That it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas of such expenses as are necessary to carry into effect any Act of the present session to make further and better provision for regulating the hours during which shops may remain open for the serving of customers.
Is it the Minister's intention to appoint additional inspectors under this Bill?
I should imagine that some additional inspectors will be required, but at the moment I cannot say how many—not so much under this Bill, perhaps, because, of course, we contemplate the general enforcement of it by members of the Gárda Síochána. I should say that the additional expenditure to be incurred in consequence of the enactment of this measure will be quite small. At the same time, it is necessary to move this Money Resolution, because there will be some expenditure, although much less than would be necessary if the enforcement were to be undertaken mainly by inspectors of the Department and not by the Gárda Síochána.
I take it, therefore, that the Minister is not going to use the inspectors that he has for trade boards purposes for the enforcement of this measure and the one dealing with shop assistants?
No.
Is not the work of all three analogous?
The trade boards inspectors have plenty of work to do. In fact, some people might be inclined to say that there are not enough of them at present.
It occurred to me that if the Minister amalgamated for the purposes of these Bills and the Trade Boards Acts the functions and duties of the existing inspectors, it might be possible to have a better enforcement, not only of these Bills, but also of trade boards' decisions.
That is a matter for Departmental administration. I do not know that it properly arises here. In fact, it is intended that the enforcement of all Orders under this Bill will be done mainly by the Guards, the same as the half holiday Orders in the past.
Would the Minister say if it is intended to increase the pay of the Guards for the additional duties that they are going to be called upon to perform?
Or increase the number of Guards.
