asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state the powers, functions, and duties of regional commissioners (a) at the present time, and (b) after the declaration of a special emergency; whether one single appointment has now been made of a deputy regional commissioner to act as such for all the regions, if he will state the circumstances which have dictated the making of such an appointment; the objectives contemplated by the making of this appointment; the powers, functions and duties of this deputy regional commissioner for all regions (a) at the present time, and (b) at a time when the regional commissioners may have assumed full duties.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Emergency Regional Commissioners.
Regional commissioners will have no powers or functions conferred on them until such time as a direction is given by the Taoiseach bringing into force some or all of the articles contained in Part II of the Emergency Powers (No. 48) Order, 1940, as amended by the Emergency Powers (No. 48) Order, 1940 (Amendment) Order, 1941, in respect of a particular region or regions. The officers who have been appointed regional commissioners will have no duties to perform in that capacity until such time as a direction is given by the Taoiseach except to prepare their plans to deal with a major emergency and to familiarise themselves with conditions in their respective regions.
I have recently appointed a deputy regional commissioner for all regions except the No. 9 region (County Dublin). This appointment has been made so that in the event of any regional commissioner being unable, owing to illness or other cause, to proceed to his region at a time of emergency there will be a deputy available to take his place. The officer appointed deputy regional commissioner will have no powers or functions in that capacity unless a particular regional commissioner is unable to proceed to his region when circumstances make it necessary to introduce the arrangements for regional administration. In that event, the deputy regional commissioner will have conferred on him all the powers and functions of regional commissioner as is provided in the Emergency Powers (No. 48) Order, 1940 (Third Amendment) Order, 1942.
Am I to understand that, at the present time, the deputy regional commissioner has, therefore, no duties connected with his possible future work?
That is correct.