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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Jul 1959

Vol. 176 No. 12

Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 1959—First Stage.

Leave granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to fix the number of members of Dáil Éireann and to revise their constituencies and to amend the law relating to the election of such members.—(Minister for Local Government.)

Might I ask the Minister if this measure must be passed by any particular date and, if so, what is the date?

By the end of November.

By both Houses of the Oireachtas by the end of November.

Could the Minister say when it will be published?

It is rather difficult to say that at the moment since it has not yet been finalised. We hope to have it before that time.

Will there be a map published with the Bill?

I had not thought about that.

It would be most useful.

If the map was published on the last occasion it will be done again.

At least the map was made available to the members of the Dáil.

Might I assume that the document which was circulating in the hands of Fianna Fáil Deputies purporting to be an advanced copy of this Bill has no authenticity?

I am unaware of any such document.

This matter mentioned by Deputy Dillon has been bandied around the House on several occasions. There is no map and no document that we know of in the Government, available to anybody to circulate through this House in respect of this matter as yet.

Could the Minister say when the Bill will be circulated?

During the Recess, we hope.

Deputies should remember that I indicated earlier that the Bill might not be introduced until after the Recess but they urged that we should take this initial step to permit its circulation. As I informed the House, the Bill has not yet been considered by the Government and it is not, therefore, possible to say when it will be circulated. The purpose of taking the First Reading now is to permit it to be printed and circulated as soon as possible.

I should like to draw the Taoiseach's attention to the time table. Apparently we are resuming on the 21st of October and this Bill must be passed before the end of November.

I do not know what happens if it is not.

That is what I want to find out. Surely we should be able to arrange things so as to have more time available for discussion of the Bill. On the last occasion the Committee Stage of a Bill of this kind took up a considerable time. Now we are hoping to get a Bill which may be contentious through both Houses of the Oireachtas in five weeks.

We shall live in hope.

Second Stage ordered for 21st October, 1959.
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