asked the Minister for Justice whether a residence qualification is required for the issue of auctioneers' licences to persons who propose to practise in Dublin; if he will state the qualifications required; and whether all persons who applied during 1955 complied with the requirements.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Auctioneers—Residence Qualification.
Section 8 of the Auctioneer and House Agents Act, 1947, provides that application for an auctioneer's licence must be made to the Revenue Commissioners and must be accompanied by (a) a certificate of qualification granted to the applicant, (b) a certificate of the accountant of the Courts of Justice that the applicant maintains in the High Court the requisite deposit or guarantee bond covering the whole of the period for which the licence is to be granted, and (c) the appropriate excise duty.
Certificates of qualification are granted by justices of the District Court, who may refuse an application on any of the grounds specified in Section 13 of the Act. A residence qualification is not one of the grounds specified in Section 13.
I cannot say whether any of the persons who applied during 1955 was ineligible on any of the grounds specified in Section 13 for the grant of a certificate of qualification or did not fulfil the requirements of Section 8 for the grant of a licence, nor could this information be procured without a great deal of time and labour, if at all.
I am sure the Minister is aware that the question specifically applies to the new auction rooms in Grafton Street. Is it open to anybody to leave any part of Great Britain, fly by night to Dublin and open an auction room for the sale of goods that may not be guaranteed as being of good quality?
He can buy all the land he likes in the country, as well.
What I am afraid of is that, if there is a campaign against these people in England and an effort made to curtail their activities, they will come over here and deceive our people in relation to the goods they offer for sale, and I specially mention the Grafton Street premises.
I am quite well aware of what the Deputy has in mind and I have it under observation, but the information I have at my disposal is that there is no auction, that it is a sale of goods, and there have been no complaints by any purchasers up to the present time.
Are they selling any lollipops?