By agreement, the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures will now make a brief statement in relation to lighting restrictions.
Financial Resolutions. - Lighting Restrictions—Ministerial Statement.
There is a resolution on the Order Paper, dealing with lighting restrictions, which we thought would be dealt with to-day. The lighting restrictions under the order that has been made were to come into operation on the 18th November. It has been decided to postpone the operation of the order except in regard to public lighting. I desire to make that announcement now, so that if people were making preparations in regard to private houses, they would not feel obliged to do it before that date. It is hoped, however, that everybody who can will make any preparations possible to secure that, if it ever should become necessary to apply lighting restrictions in their full rigour, they will be able to co-operate in doing so.
Would the Minister say whether the order is postponed rather indefinitely and whether his remarks, as well as applying to private persons, also apply to people carrying on commercial and manufacturing undertakings?
They do; they apply to the lighting restrictions in regard to private houses, public buildings, factories, motor cars and public lighting. The order will operate to cowl public lighting. The point of the restrictions that deals with private houses, motor cars and factories will be postponed indefinitely.
Does the indefinite postponement include transport lighting?
Yes; it also includes motor cars.
Then the only thing that remains is the public lighting.
Mr. Byrne
Will there be any modification of the public lighting? In some areas it is very bad and in other areas there is fairly good lighting. Will it be spread more equally than it is?
The Parliamentary Secretary went into that on the last day it was debated and it was pointed out that every effort is being made to get cowls put on public lights so that all the lights can be switched on.
Do I gather from the Minister that the intention is to put on all public lighting, but to cowl it?
Yes, when cowled.
The Dáil adjourned at 10.55 p.m. until 3 o'clock on Thursday, November 9th.