Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Jun 1946

Vol. 101 No. 12

Committee on Finance. - Finance Bill, 1946—Money Resolution.

Minister for Finance (Mr. Aiken)

I move:—

That for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to charge and impose certain duties of customs and inland revenue (including excise), to amend the law relating to customs and inland revenue (including excise), and to make further provisions in connection with finance, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas of a sum not exceeding £5,000,000 to the transition development fund to be created under such Act.

This arises out of Section 30 of the Bill at present before the Dáil. That section gives authority for the payment into the new transition development fund, out of moneys to be provided by the Oireachtas, of a sum not exceeding £5,000,000 in the current financial year.

Mr. Dillon

Is it the intention of the Minister to give us any fuller particulars than he gave in the Budget speech of the selection of typical schemes he has in mind to which he actually proposes to devote this transition development fund or is this the proper time for that?

An Ceann Comhairle

There is a Bill, I understand, that will come before the Dáil formally.

Mr. Aiken

In the Finance Bill that comes after this resolution there is a section——

Mr. Dillon

There is a section, I know.

Mr. Aiken

——and then there will be an Estimate introduced. Once the Finance Bill is through both Houses of the Oireachtas, I intend to introduce an Estimate and I will give at that time as full particulars as I can.

Mr. Dillon

We are in rather an awkward position. I fully understand the Minister's difficulties in this matter but it appears to be rather a cart before the horse procedure that we should be asked to legislate for the transition fund in the assurance that the Minister will tell us, when the Estimate is introduced, what the fund is to be used for. I do not want to press the Minister unduly; I recognise his difficulties; but if he can, either on the section, on the Committee Stage of the Finance Bill, or in connection with this motion, name to us a representative group of schemes, for the prosecution of which he intends to avail of this transition fund, I think it would enable us to discuss the section when it arises and the Estimate more intelligently than we can otherwise hope to do.

An Ceann Comhairle

The section will arise in a few minutes.

Mr. Aiken

I will do that on the section.

Mr. Dillon

Thank you.

Resolution agreed to.

Resolution reported and agreed to.