I move:—
Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £3,028 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íochta an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníochta i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1939, chun Tuarastail agus Costaisí Oifige an Rúnaí don Uachtarán agus chun Costaisí áirithe eile bhaineann le Teaghlachas an Uachtaráin.
That a sum not exceeding £3,028 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1939, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Secretary to the President, and for certain other expenses of the President's Establishment.
It will be seen from the volume of Estimates that the total amount of this Estimate is £4,048. The title of the Estimate, however, is to some extent misleading, as the emoluments and allowances which it is provided in the Constitution shall be paid to the President will be charged upon the Central Fund, and a Bill to provide for that will be introduced to-morrow. This Vote in effect provides for what might be described as the Civil Service side of the Presidential Establishment. It might possibly be more fittingly referred to as a Vote for the President's secretariat, for certain minor and petty expenses, and for certain capital expenditure, making, as I have said, £4,048 in all. It is contemplated that the office of the Secretary to the President shall have attached to it such duties and functions in relation to the commissions constituted by Articles 57 and 14 of the Constitution as the Government shall direct. It will be seen from the face of the Estimate that, in addition to the expenses to be borne on this Vote, there will be the ordinary charges in respect of allied services, such as stationery and printing and Post Office services, but it is not possible at this stage to estimate the cost of those services until some experience has been gained in the actual working of the establishment.
Sub-head A of the Vote covers salaries, wages and allowances, and, under the sub-head, provision is made for the Secretary to the President. This officer's appointment, as the House is no doubt aware, dates from 29th December last. The scale of salary has not yet been fixed for the post, but the present holder has a personal scale of £1,000, rising by £50 per annum to £1,200 per annum, plus bonus. In addition to the secretary, there is at the moment a shorthand typist and one temporary messenger. The Vote makes provision for such additional clerical assistance as may be necessary, up to the amount of £300. £300 has been included in the Vote for such allowances as it may be decided to pay to the aide-de-camp to the President. Under sub-head B, the sum of £100 has been provided for travelling expenses, and that is anticipated to cover travelling expenses and subsistence allowances to the staff of the secretary's office. It is anticipated that the President will ordinarily travel by car, for the running or maintenance of which no allowance will be paid to him from this Vote, but provision has been made here for the possible payment of expenses when other modes of conveyance, such as trains, may be used by him on exceptional occasions. The miscellaneous petty expenses of the secretary's office will be met from sub-head C, for which £100 has been provided. Out of sub-head D, the telegraphic and telephonic charges arising out of official business will be defrayed. Sub-head E provides for the purchase of motor cars which will form part of the Presidential equipment. The cost of maintaining and running those cars, however, will be defrayed by the President out of the allowances which will be provided for him in the Bill to be introduced to-morrow.