Vol. 87 No. 11
I move:—
That a sum not exceeding £5,583 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, 1943, for the Salaries and other Expenses of Commissions, Committees and Special Inquiries.
There is nothing arising on this motion.
Among the commissions that are provided for here there still are the Commission on Irish in the Civil Service and also the Commission on Vocational Organisation. I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether the Commission on Irish in the Civil Service has issued any reports either in an interim or in any other way or whether it is proposed that, they should. I asked particularly when we were dealing with the Vote for the Minister for Local Government and Public Health what the position was as regards the conduct of correspondence between the Department of Local Government and the county council and the board of health for Galway and Donegal. I do not know that there was any very clear information given by the Minister as to how that particular matter stood. I would like to know whether the Commission on Irish in the Civil Service has examined in any way the correspondence conducted between the various Departments and the bodies or others engaged with it, and whether any report has been made by them on that matter.
With regard to the Commission on Vocational Organisation, I would like to know whether the evidence given before that commission has been printed and will be made available for immediate release at the same time as the report on the Commission on Vocational Organisation is issued. I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary how the preparation of that report stands at the present time and whether he can tell the House if it is proposed to issue it within a reasonable period.
I do not know whether that particular detail of the correspondence between certain Government Departments was, in fact, submitted to that commission but I will ascertain that and I will let the Deputy know. The position in relation to the Commission on Vocational Organisation is that oral evidence has been taken from various organisations; the commission has practically completed the taking of evidence and the preparation of reports is at present engaging their attention. I rather gather it is very voluminous evidence in that particular case, and I think it may be very questionable whether it would be subjected to printing in the present emergency. I may be wrong, but I have the idea that the evidence in that particular case is very voluminous.
Is it a question of paper only?
There is the question of printing. Certainly, in some form, it will have to be rendered available. The question is how and when.
Is the difficulty one of paper?
I should imagine paper is very urgently a matter of limited supply.
A limited number of copies could be made available.
I will have inquiries made, but I have an idea that it is a very big work.
There was also the question of the report of and evidence given before the Agricultural Commission. I wonder could the Parliamentary Secretary give us any information about that?
I do not think that is mentioned. I do not think it has been printed.
There was an interim report on a few particular matters, but the evidence might be very useful at the present time in view of what we are facing. There is a post-war period to be faced by agriculture and that evidence might be very useful.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary no idea as to when the report of the Vocational Organisation Commission will be published?
I could not say. All I know is that they are very actively engaged at the moment.
At the present time, as the Parliamentary Secretary knows, that commission has been ignored by the Government or used as an excuse for not doing anything.
What the Deputy knows, what he thinks I know, what he knows I know, are three entirely different things and certainly not things I can answer in that particular form. These are what you might call subjective statements.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary state whether he has any information to the effect that it is the intention of this commission to submit an interim report or has any request been made for the submission of such a report?
I believe it is actually preparing its final report.
There will be no interim report?
If it is in a position to provide a final report, I do not suppose so. I understand there are some sections to this report. Whether the whole report will come together or not. I do not know.
Do you expect a unanimous report?
Prophecy is not my particular function.
Like the Banking Commission.
Yes, like the Banking Commission.
With regard to the Commission on Irish in the Civil Service, apart from the particular matter I mentioned, can the Parliamentary Secretary say if the commission has presented any general reports to the Government, and whether these reports are likely to be made available or can be made available to any Deputies interested in them?
I understand they make quarterly reports to the Minister for Finance.
Can these reports be made available to Deputies or can they be inspected by Deputies?
I will ask the Minister for Finance to see what the position is.
