Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Feb 1953

Vol. 136 No. 11

Private Deputies' Business. - Poor Law Valuations—Motion.

Mr. Cogan

I thought this motion could not possibly be reached to-night. I did not think that the Deputies who had the other motions on the Order Paper would think so little about them that they would refrain from moving them. Therefore I must apologise for not having with me somefacts which I should like to put before the House in support of the following motion which I now move:

That Dáil Éireann is of opinion that a commission should be established to inquire into the methods by which rateable valuations are fixed and to make recommendations for the removal of anomalies and injustices and the reform of the system of poor law valuations and that, pending the report of the commission, no increase should be made in the valuation of buildings because of improvements or extensions.

Mr. MacEntee

Might I, with the permission of Deputy Cogan, call the attention of the Chair to the fact that Deputy Dillon, Deputy O'Higgins and Deputy Rooney, who were so anxious to have these motions discussed in Private Deputies' time, have now left the House?

Mr. Moran

And that there is no representative of either Clann an Talmhan or Fine Gael in the House to do the business that was ordered for to-day.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

That does not arise.

Mr. Moran

It arises as far as the public are concerned and their representatives who are not here.

Mr. Hickey

We ought to get down to business and stop playing politics.

Mr. Moran

In a half-empty house?

Brendán Mac Fheórais

You are not here so often yourself.

Mr. Cogan

I think that the Clann na Talmhan Party and the Fine Gael Party are not interested in the question of poor law valuations.

Mr. Gallagher

No. There is greater publicity value in Tulyar.

Mr. Cogan

They are not interested in any proposal for a reform of the system of poor law valuations. I am very much interested in this problem. I always have been, because I have always felt that the system by which valuations are ascertained, and bywhich direct taxation, based on these valuations, is levied, is somewhat harsh and unjust. I feel that it is particularly harsh and unjust on people who, in their desire to benefit the community generally, as well, perhaps, as benefiting themselves to a certain extent, proceed to improve property which comes into their possession.

The position at the moment is that poor law valuations are fixed in accordance with a statute passed away back in 1850, over 100 years ago. I am glad to see that Deputy O'Higgins has come back to show some interest in the problem of valuations.

Mr. Moran

You spoke too soon—he is gone again.

Mr. Cogan

I am sorry that I spoke too soon. Perhaps he is not really interested. It is an extraordinary thing that a fairly large political Party which boasts that it stands for the protection of private property, for initiative, for private enterprise and for the policy of encouraging citizens to improve their property and thereby give employment to their fellow citizens, has no interest in this particular proposal.

Captain Cowan

Are we entitled to go on in the absence of the people who should be on those benches opposite? There is no Clann na Talmhan or Clann na Poblachta Deputy in the House. I think that the House is being treated with contempt.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Chair has no function in that matter.

Mr. MacEntee

I wish to say, if Deputy Cogan gives way, that it is quite obvious that the Deputy and other people in the House are at a disadvantage in speaking on this very important motion. The benches opposite are completely empty. The whole Opposition is represented by two members of the Labour Party.

Would it be in order for me, Sir, to propose that, in these circumstances the House should now adjourn until 2 p.m. to-morrow? That would enable Deputy Cogan to resume the debate on this motion on Friday at 12 o'clock. There will be Private Members' timeon Friday. It is quite obvious that Deputy Cogan's motion, which is a very important one, will not receive the consideration it deserves in the absence of practically the whole Opposition.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

If Deputy Cogan agrees, and if the Minister moves that motion, the Chair will accept it.

Mr. Cogan

I realise that there are only 15 minutes to go, and that there are some facts which I should like to put properly before the House. I particularly dislike the complete boycott of this important debate by the entire Opposition.

Mr. MacEntee

Would the Deputy be good enough to give me permission to move the Adjournment of the House?

Mr. Cogan

Yes, on the understandingthat I resume the debate on the motion on Friday.

Mr. MacEntee

I move that the House now stands adjourned until 2 p.m. on Thursday, the 26th February, 1953.

Brendán Mac Fheórais

I think that a motion for the Adjournment of the House must be put and approved by the House. It has not been put to the House.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I now put the motion, that the House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. to-morrow.

Brendán Mac Fheórais

Must that be unanimous?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

No.

Mr. Hickey

The House has been playing politics for the last half-hour.

Question put.

The Dáil divided: Tá: 55; Níl: 18.

Tá

• Aiken, Frank.
• Allen, Denis.
• Bartley, Gerald.
• Beegan, Patrick.
• Blaney, Neil T.
• Boland, Gerald.
• Brady, Philip A.
• Brennan, Joseph.
• Briscoe, Robert.
• Buckley, Seán.
• Burke, Patrick.
• Butler, Bernard.
• Calleary, Phelim A.
• Carter, Frank.
• Cogan, Patrick.
• Colley, Harry.
• Collins, James J.
• Corry, Martin J.
• Cowan, Peadar.
• Crowley, Honor Mary.
• Crowley, Tadhg.
• Cunningham, Liam.
• Davern, Michael J.
• de Valera, Eamon.
• de Valera, Vivion.
• Duignan, Peadar.
• Fanning, John.
• Flanagan, Seán.
• Flynn, John.
• Flynn, Stephen.
• Gallagher, Colm.
• Gilbride, Eugene.
• Hillery, Patrick J.
• Hilliard, Michael.
• Kenneally, William.
• Kennedy, Michael J.
• Killilea, Mark.
• Lemass, Seán.
• Little, Patrick J.
• Lynch, Jack (Cork Borough).
• MacCarthy, Seán.
• McEllistrim, Thomas.
• MacEntee, Seán.
• Moran, Michael.
• Moylan, Seán.
• Ó Briain, Donnchadh.
• Ormonde, John.
• O'Sullivan, Ted.
• Rice, Bridget M.
• Ryan, James.
• Ryan, Mary B.
• Sheridan, Michael.
• Smith, Patrick.
• Traynor, Oscar.
• Walsh, Thomas.

Níl

• Beirne, John.
• Byrne, Alfred.
• Corish, Brendan.
• Dillon, James M.
• Dunne, Seán.
• Giles, Patrick.
• Hickey, James.
• Kyne, Thomas A.
• Lynch, John (North Kerry).
• McAuliffe, Patrick.
• MacBride, Seán.
• McMenamin, Daniel.
• Murphy, Michael P.
• Norton, William.
• O'Hara, Thomas.
• O'Higgins, Thomas F. (Jun.).
• O'Reilly, Patrick.
• Rooney, Eamon.

Tellers:—Tá: Deputies Ó Briain and Killilea; Níl: Deputies Mac Fheórais and Kyne.

Question declared carried.

The Dáil adjourned at 11.28 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Thursday, 26th February, 1953.