asked the Taoiseach if he will state when it is intended to declare the emergency at an end.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - End of Emergency.
The Government has given careful consideration to this question and has decided that for the present it would be premature to take the step indicated by the Deputy. Although hostilities have ceased, world conditions are still far from settled. In our own case the position regarding supplies essential to the life of the community is in some respects worse than at any time since 1939, and the possibility is that a period of even greater difficulty may occur. In that case the public safety might require legislation, such as the emergency powers Acts, with validity depending on the existence of a national emergency. The Government hopes that no such legislation will be necessary, but our view is that until further progress has been made towards the signing of the peace treaties, or at least towards the restoration of more normal peaceful conditions, it would be unwise, and not in the public interest, to take the irrevocable step of formally declaring the emergency at an end and depriving ourselves of the power of having such legislation even if it should become vital. The House is aware, of course, that the emergency powers Acts have in fact expired and that no laws are now in force which depend on those Acts or on the emergency for their validity.