Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 Aug 1946

Vol. 102 No. 12

Industrial Research and Standards Bill, 1946—From the Seanad. (Committee.)

Minister for Industry and Commerce (Mr. Lemass)

It is proposed to ask the Committee to agree to all the amendments inserted by the Seanad.

The amendments were as follows:—

Section 5: 1. In page 4, Section 5, paragraph (d), line 42 deleted and the following paragraph substituted:—

(d) to publish the result of any test or analysis carried out by the institute or by any other person on its behalf.

2. In page 4, Section 5, a new sub-section as follows inserted:—

(2) The institute may arrange with any person for the carrying out by that person on behalf of the institute of any research, investigation, test or analysis referred to in sub-section (1) of this section.

Section 19: 3. In page 7, Section 19, after the words "undertaken by" in lines 11 and 15, the words "or on behalf of" inserted.

4. In page 7, Section 19, sub-section (2), at the end of line 18, the words "after consultation with the industrial research committee" inserted.

Section 22: 5. In page 8, Section 22, sub-section (2), lines 23, 24 and 25 deleted and the following sub-section substituted:—

(2) A standard mark shall include the words "Caighdeán Eireannach" or the initials "C.E." and may include the words "Irish Standard" or the initials "L.S." or any other mark.

Section 38: 6. In page 12, Section 38, sub-section (2), lines 52 and 53, the words "together with such observations as the director may have made thereon to" deleted, and in line 54, after the word "report", the word "and" inserted, and the words "and observations" deleted.

7. In page 13, Section 38 (3), line 2, the words "the director and" deleted.

Section 40: 8. In page 13, Section 40, line 21, the words "by the institute" deleted, and in line 22, after the word "publication" the words "by the institute" inserted.

Mr. Lemass

Amendments Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 8 hang together. It was suggested in the Seanad that the provisions originally in the Bill did not make it sufficiently clear that the proposed institute for research and standards would have authority to arrange with outside bodies and persons to carry out on its behalf work involving research, investigation, test or analysis. The amendments are designed to make that clear and to ensure that the institute will have power to arrange with any person for the carrying out by that person on behalf of the institute of any research, investigation, test or analysis referred to in sub-section (1) of Section 5. The first amendment empowers the institute to publish the result of any test or analysis carried out by the institute or by any other person on its behalf. I move that the Committee agree with the Seanad in this amendment.

Agreed.

Mr. Lemass

Amendment No. 2 is the main amendment to which I have referred. I move that the Committee agree with the Seanad in this amendment.

Agreed.

Mr. Lemass

Amendment No. 3 is consequential on the first amendment. I move that the Committee agree with the Seanad in this amendment.

Agreed.

Mr. Lemass

I move that the Committee agree with the Seanad in amendment No. 4. Section 19 of the Bill deals with the publication of discoveries and inventions. It was suggested in the Seanad that sub-section (2) should be amended so as to require the Minister for Industry and Commerce to consult the industrial research council before determining the extent to which any commercial property resulting from an investigation carried out by the institute for another person would become the property of that other person and of the State in combination.

Agreed.

Mr. Lemass

Amendment No. 5 relates to Section 22 of the Bill, which prescribes the form of the standard mark to be affixed to a commodity conforming to a standard specification. It was considered that the Irish form of the mark should be compulsory in all cases. The purpose of the amendment is to provide that the standard mark will include the words "Caighdeán Eireannach" or the corresponding initials, and may include the words "Irish Standard" or the corresponding initials. I move that the Committee agree with the Seanad in this amendment.

Agreed.

Mr. Lemass

I move that the Committee agree with the Seanad in amendment No. 6. Section 38 of the Bill, as introduced, provided for the submission of a report annually by the industrial research committee to the council of the institute, together with the observations of the director of the institute on the report. The Seanad considered that it was undesirable to provide that the committee's report should be submitted to the council with the observations of the director and that the council should consider the report "together with such observations as the director may have made thereon". The purpose of amendments Nos. 6 and 7 is to delete that provision. The section, as amended, will provide that the industrial research committee will submit its report and programme to the council and, having considered the observations of the council on the report and programme, will then submit it to the Minister, who shall publish them.

Agreed.

Mr. Lemass

I move that the Committee agree with the Seanad in amendment No. 7, which is consequential.

Agreed.

Mr. Lemass

I move that the Committee agree with the Seanad in amendment No. 8, which is consequential on amendment No. 1.

Agreed.

Amendments reported and report agreed to.

Ordered: That a Message be sent to the Seanad accordingly.