asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to issue explanatory memoranda with regulations issued under the Social Welfare Act, 1952.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Act, 1952.
An explanatory guide relating to regulations made under the SocialWelfare Act, 1952, is in course of preparation.
Do I take it that the explanatory memoranda will be in relation to regulations already made?
Yes.
What I am concerned about is the getting of an explanatory memoranda for the information of this House and the public when regulations are made as to what exactly those regulations are intended to do. If the Minister looks at the regulations he will realise that they are extremely technical and an ordinary commonsense explanation of what they purport to do is necessary to enable a Deputy intelligently to understand the regulations. I think that situation can be met if the Minister makes a regution and then, in a simple statement accompanying that regulation, explains what it is intended to do. I am quite certain that not 1 per cent. of the members of this House can understand what the regulations mean at the moment.
In practically all cases there is an explanatory memorandum and that can be applied for in relation to any particular regulation. The Department is now preparing a guide to all the regulations issued so far.
The Minister may make a regulation next week. That regulation will have to be laid on the Table of this House. This House, before it can either approve or annul that regulation, must know what is in the regulation. In present circumstances it is exceedingly difficult to understand these regulations.
If any Deputy makes application he will get an explanation.
I do not think that is meeting the situation fairly. When the Minister lays a regulation on the Table of the House would it not be a simple matter for some official to say in ordinary language what that regulation means? Any officer in the Department could undertake thatsimple service for the information of Deputies.
It used to be a very busy Department.
Am I to understand that the Minister will not do that?
I am quite anxious to do all these things.
Will the Minister now meet the request made? That is a simple question to answer.
I do not know exactly what the Deputy's request is.
I want something definite from the Minister. I have asked the Minister, when issuing a regulation, will he attach to that regulation a simple explanatory memorandum saying what the regulation is intended to do?
I think I might answer the Deputy by saying that I shall do that wherever I think it is necessary. Some of the regulations might be very simple.
If they are simple, that is all right; in other cases an explanation will be issued.
Now that pressure of work in the Department has eased.