I move that the Bill be now read a Second Time.
The main purpose of this Bill is to enact in permanent form measures which were introduced into the House first of all in temporary form in 1945. The House is, no doubt, aware that prior to the last emergency there were very few instances in which export controls of any sort were necessary. There has been for a long time, of course, legislation, statutory enactments, dealing with the prohibition of imports, but, until the last emergency, it was not necessary to have any type of similar controls, prohibitions and sanctions dealing with exports.
In 1945, a Bill was brought to the Oireachtas and it was designed at the time to enact what had up to then been achieved by Emergency Powers Orders. It was made to expire at the end of five years. When 1950 came it was reenacted for a further period of five years. Last year I asked the House to enact it only for a period of 12 months, so that I might see what features in that legislation were desirable by way of permanent enactment. This Bill that is now before the House is the permanent enactment which I am recommending to it.
I do not think it is necessary for me to go over the ground that is covered in the Bill. We all know that there have to be provisions enabling the Revenue Commissioners to prohibit smuggling. As I have said, there have long been such provisions in respect of inward smuggling. These provisions are to cover and to prohibit outward smuggling in the same way. It is necessary, unfortunately, for the economy of the country that we should take powers and provide against certain exports which have developed largely out of the situation arising during the last world war.
The actual provisions of the Bill are more for the Committee Stage. I have given the general tenor of the Bill. If any member of the House wants me to explain at this stage any particular section I shall be glad to do it, but I think the sections are, perhaps, better left until the Committee Stage.