Dáil Éireann debate -
Saturday, 2 Sep 1939

Vol. 77 No. 1

Committee on Finance. - Emergency Powers Bill, 1939—Money Resolution.

Mr. Lemass

I move:—

That it, is expedient to authorise the payment out, of moneys provided by the Oireachtas of any expenses incurred by the Government or by any Minister in the administration of any Act, of the present session to make provision for securing the public safety and the preservation of the State in time of war and, in particular, to make provision for the maintenance of public order and for the provision and control of supplies and services essential to the life of the community, and to provide for divers other matters (including the charging of fees on certain licences and other documents) connected with the matters aforesaid.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolution reported and agreed to.

The Taoiseach

Before the House goes into Committee, I would like an hour or so to consider these amendments to the Bill and see how they will dove-tail into the whole scheme. Naturally, if we are to operate this Act by way of orders, we have to prepare a number of orders ahead of time. We would like a little time to examine the implications and see how the orders would be affected, and thus have an opportunity to tighten up things with view to seeing how many of the amendments we might accept. I should propose an hour's adjournment.

Mr. Cosgrave

Until 12.30 am?

Professor O'Sullivan

Would it not be better to discuss these in Committee without going to the trouble of re-drafting all of them to be withdrawn and re-submitted on the Report Stage, and take an adjournment then? There does not seem to be much use in re-drafting amendments if the House subsequently decides to reject them. It occurs to me that it would be better to discus them in Committee, reject some of them, accept others, withdraw them all, and the Government can then re-draft the ones we decide to accept, and can put them in on the Report Stage.

The Taoiseach

The same point occurred to me but I believed it would be more in accordance with the usual procedure to adopt the other course. At the end of the Committee Stage we might have to ask for an other adjournment, though I do no think that that is likely. Our attitude may he determined by the amount of work that will be involved in recasting orders owing to the change suggested. Perhaps half an hour would be sufficient.

Sitting suspended at 11.30 p.m., and resumed at 12 midnight.