I move that this Bill be now read a Second Time. This is an annual measure with which the House is familiar. There is no new principle involved in it, and I am sure the House will pass it quickly.
Adoption Bill, 1952—From Seanad. - Expiring Laws Bill, 1952—Second and Subsequent Stages.
Ever since I came into the Dáil I have made a protest on this Bill annually as to what is its necessity. When I was in Government I tried to stop it, but apparently no one can stop it. It is one of those forces which gather momentum. No one can stop it and no one knows what it is for. I propose an amendment here and now that it be made a permanent Bill and leave it at that.
The Deputy is aware that it has been reduced very much.
Why not leave it there? I cannot understand why it is put down every year. These provisions and Schedules are being kept on ad infinitum. We are prepared to agree to an amendment here and now to make the Bill permanent, and so get it out of the way. That will save the expense incurred every year in getting it printed.
Such a proposal as that would appeal to me, but it so happens that this has been going on for years.
And no one can stop it. I was not able when I was in Government.
When does the Minister propose to bring in a Corrupt Practices Bill?
I do not know.
Will the Minister say if the Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Act is in operation?
No.
God be good to the days when the Minister responsible for this annual Bill would take the trouble of mentioning the meaning of the four Acts in the Schedule. I venture to think that there is not a Deputy who knows what they mean. I think it is important that, when a Bill is brought forward, some steps should be taken to explain it even if it were only to read out a White Paper on it so as to have the contents incorporated in the Official Report as a record of why the Bill was brought forward.
The meaning of the four Acts is explained in the Explanatory Memorandum accompanying the Bill. I honestly think that the Deputy himself would feel tired if that were trotted out year after year.
We never had an explanation from the Minister as to what he is going to do in connection with the Corrupt Practices Act. Could we have the information from him before the next stage of the Bill?
I was hoping that the House would give me all stages now.
Yes, if you give us all the information we want.
The intention, as far as I know, is to reach a stage when a codification of the electoral law will take place with certain amendments. I do not know how many Electoral Acts there are or how many will be affected. There is no use in my saying to the House when, I think, these amendments will be effected. I am not able to say that. Neither can I say if these amendments were effected, when the codification would take place. All I can say is that the Department has been working on this matter for a long time, and that we hope to do something in regard to an amendment of the electoral law perhaps within the next 12 months. That is as far as I can go.
Question put and agreed to.
Agreed to take the remaining stages to-day.