At this stage, and in view of the fact that the hope which the Minister expressed in July last to have this brought into law at Christmas has not been realised, can he now give the Dáil an assurance that the Bill will be circulated immediately so that Deputies may have an opportunity during the Christmas Recess to study it so that the Second Stage can be taken in the Dáil as soon as possible? Would the Minister be able to say at this stage whether or not the scheme will be financed by way of taxation?
Social Welfare (Insurance) Bill, 1951—First Stage.
Leave granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to establish a co-ordinated system of social insurance and to provide for the benefits thereunder, to repeal, amend or extend the existing enactments relating to national health insurance, unemployment insurance, old age pensions, widows' and orphans' pensions, unemployment assistance and intermittent unemployment insurance, and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.—(Minister for Social Welfare, Dr. Ryan.)
I want to say that the Deputy has made a complete misstatement. I never promised to have the Bill through before Christmas.
I merely said that the Minister expressed the hope in the Dáil in July last that the Bill would be passed into law at Christmas.
I never expressed even the hope.
Is the Minister correctly reported in saying that the scheme which will be introduced under this Bill would cost the Exchequer £25,000,000?
I said the total cost of social welfare would reach £25,000,000 including subsidiary services.
The Minister said he hoped to have it in law at Christmas.
The Deputies opposite seem to have much more faith in me than they have in Deputy Norton. They think I can do it in six months.
Is it not a fact that the Minister said when he left office that he left the scheme behind him? Why can he not find it now that he has resumed office?
Deputy Norton said he could not find it. I found it for him.
When is it proposed to take the Second Stage?
On the 30th January.
When will it be circulated?
I hope before then.
Can we take it that it will not be circulated before Christmas?