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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Dec 1947

Vol. 109 No. 3

Committee on Finance. - Supplies and Services (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1946 (Continuance) Bill, 1947—Second and Subsequent Stages.

I move that the Bill be now read a Second Time. The measure is called the Supplies and Services (Temporary Provisions) Bill, but it might be better described as the Hope Deferred Act. As Deputies will remember, when we enacted the measure last year and extended, until the 31st December, 1947, certain of the powers conferred upon the Government by the Emergency Powers Act, 1939, and the Orders made thereunder, it was hoped that emergency conditions would have largely passed by this date. It is now obvious that this hope has not been realised.

Emergency conditions persist in many directions and, in some degree, have even become accentuated during the past 12 months. There are still world shortages of many vital commodities, notably wheat, oils, fats and sugar and, as Deputies will have learned from recent discussions, there are growing currency difficulties which may give rise to further supply problems in the course of the next few months. In these circumstances it is obviously necessary that the Government should be enabled to retain powers of control over essential supplies and services. The Supplies and Services (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1946 (Continuance) Bill, 1947, provides for the continuance of such of the emergency powers as are still necessary for a further period of 12 months.

Since the original Supplies and Services (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1946, came into force the Government has made every effort to implement its undertaking to abandon all emergency powers which are not essential in present circumstances or to enshrine in permanent legislation those which it has considered desirable to continue. A similar policy in the matter of the shedding of powers no longer required has been followed by individual Ministers in exercise of the functions conferred upon them by the main Orders.

It would, perhaps, be optimistic to express the hope that this Bill will be required for another year and no longer —that this time next year we can dispense with rationing and the other controls which will be exercised under it.

That would be good news.

I think the Dáil would prefer that the Bill should be for one year only, and it could review the position again next year if an extension of these powers has to be considered.

I have only two observations to make. Last year when the Bill, which subsequently became enacted in its present form, was issued, a number of Orders, or the gist of certain Orders that were being maintained, were published and an explanatory memorandum was issued showing what Orders were being continued. I do not suppose there has been any great change or variety in the extent of any of these Orders since, but very often, when Orders are made, the fact is published in the papers but the actual Orders are not available for quite a considerable time. These Orders are circulated to Deputies. I have noticed that very often an Order is made, say, in August which Deputies do not get until October. Some effort should be made to enable people to become aware of the Orders. It is true that they are published in the Press but considerable delay takes place between the actual signing of the Order and the time it is issued to Deputies, and very often also to the Government Publications Sales Office.

My second point deals with a specific case. It is one which has been raised on a number of occasions and which is being continued, or the circumstances surrounding it are made possible by virtue of the fact that emergency provisions concerning it continue. I refer to the question of fresh bread in Dublin and Bray. An Order is at present in force which prohibits the sale of fresh bread in Dublin and Bray. I cannot, and anyone familiar with the facts cannot, understand why the people in Dublin and Bray are not able to secure fresh bread. As I understand it, it has not been found possible to reach agreement between the bankers and the unions concerned. In a matter of that kind emergency provisions should not be continued. I understand that the Minister has informed them that this Order will lapse when the present Act lapses but if this particular Act were not passed now the Order would lapse. I think the Minister should seriously consider the revocation of that Order and thereby make available to the people in Dublin and Bray fresh bread just as in the rest of the country.

I am in complete agreement on the question of the speedy publication of Orders. It is very desirable that these Orders should be available to members of the public as quickly as possible after being made. I understand that practical problems are encountered by the Stationery Office in doing that. It has been their practice to provide stencilled copies where Orders are likely to be required by members of the public engaged in business who are anxious to know the precise terms of the regulations. Very careful consideration has been given by the officials of the Stationery Office as to the methods that might be adopted for the speeding up of Government publications generally and the publication of Orders in particular. Certain action has been taken by the Government to facilitate the Stationery Office in that matter. I am sure there is still some delay although everybody shares the Deputy's anxiety to eliminate it as far as possible.

On the Fresh Bread Order, I felt that it was a provision which could be dispensed with also. It was made in relation to particular circumstances which arose during the emergency and which, I thought, no longer existed; and that given due notice, the bakery trade in Dublin could reorganise itself so as to avoid the necessity for the Order. It is an Order I dislike because there are many practicable difficulties in enforcing it. The matter was discussed with both the master bakers and the unions representing the men employed in the trade and at a stage I met both of them myself. I was convinced by them that the repeal of the Order now would create new difficulties for the bakers in maintaining adequate supplies with present equipment. They felt that when it becomes possible for them to enlarge their equipment these difficulties would be reduced but that in present circumstances with present equipment they would have problems in maintaining the increased supply of bread required to meet present demands. It will be appreciated that the demand for bread because of cooking difficulties and other causes is very much higher than normal, particularly in Dublin, even with rationing. On the other hand, the representatives of the union catering for bread-van drivers also convinced me that the repeal of the Order would impose considerable hardships on their workers who are, at the present time, unable to complete their rounds as expeditiously as in normal times because of the requirements of the rationing scheme, the obligation to collect coupons, check rations and so on. It appears that, if hot bread were made available, people would buy it even though it is not more economical or better for them but merely on the ground that, because it is hot, they know its exact age. Therefore, the demands for hot bread would create an increasing problem for bakers in maintaining supplies and a problem for the van men in getting their rounds completed in a reasonable time. I felt it would be undesirable, therefore, to revoke the Order.

I told the parties, however, that the Order was not one which could be continued in permanent legislation. It has defects as an Order, particularly the outstanding defect from my point of view of exceptional difficulty in enforcing it. But they would have to face the fact that at some stage the Order would cease to operate. They now know that that will be so in the future. I hope it will be so in 12 months' time and that the Supplies and Services Act will no longer be required. In that way they are given sufficient time to adapt themselves to meet the situation when it arises. I think 12 months is ample notice and I am sure they will settle down to the task.

Question put and agreed to.
Bill put through Committee and reported without amendment; received for final consideration and passed.
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