Vol. 163 No. 5
I move:—
That a sum not exceeding £154,830 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1958, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Houses of the Oireachtas, including a Grant-in-Aid.
I should like to ask the Minister if he will take all possible steps to ensure that native fuel is used for the heating of this building. It is deplorable that up to the present the heating has been provided by means of oil, a foreign fuel. It is a very extraordinary position to have at the moment, in view of the necessity for cutting down imports. The various Departments of State have exhorted public bodies and firms to utilise Irish fuel for energy and heating purposes and surely it is not too much to suggest that the Houses of the Oireachtas should set the example.
Could the Minister indicate what progress has been made in the preparation of the Bill dealing with the staffs of the two Houses of the Oireachtas? There were some negotiations in that respect last year, and, while I know that I cannot advocate legislation, at the same time, I am bound to say that the present administrative position is the reverse of satisfactory, relying as it does on certain residual powers left in the Order of 1922 or 1923.
Would the Minister take steps to improve the ventilation of this House?
The ventilation is the worst thing in this House. The fans cannot be used because they raise dust and an extractor should be put in. Indeed, an extractor might extract some of the heat from the debates, if the atmosphere was high.
I do not know anything officially, but I have seen turf being unloaded at the boiler house. I think that all the Departments use turf, but there may be scarcities at times. In regard to the legislation, I have not had time to look into that matter. If the meetings of the Oireachtas are coming to an end, we may have time to go into such matters.
