Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jun 1964

Vol. 211 No. 6

Registration of Title Bill, 1963—From the Seanad.

The Dáil went into Committee to consider amendments from the Seanad.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Haughey)

I move that the Committee agree with the Seanad in amendment No. 1:

Section 9: in subsection (3), line 43, "eight" deleted and "ten" substituted.

The amendment deals with the qualifications of the Registrar. The proposal is to increase the number of years for which a person must have served either as a barrister or a solicitor in order to be eligible for appointment as Registrar. The original proposal was that a person would have to have eight years' experience as a barrister or solicitor. The new proposal is to increase that term to ten years.

Mr. Dillon

This is not a very significant amendment but it has been moved by the Minister to meet points raised by the Opposition in the Seanad, and it is always a salutary and sensible procedure to give due consideration to the views of the various Parties and, where possible, to meet them. Inasmuch as this is an effort to do that, I gladly join with the Minister in commending this amendment to the House.

Question put and agreed to.

Mr. Haughey

I move that the Committee agree with the Seanad in amendment No. 2:

Section 25: in line 6, "three" deleted and "six" substituted.

Section 25 deals with compulsory registration and it says that in an area to which compulsory registration applies a transfer shall not be effective unless it is registered within a certain period. The Bill stipulated a period of three months. Both Deputy Sweetman and Deputy M.J. O'Higgins were very forceful in arguing that the period was too short and they suggested it should be increased to six months. I undertook in the Dáil to reconsider the matter when the Bill got to the Seanad. I have done so, and I am satisfied it is reasonable to accept the suggestion that the period be increased to six months, and that is what is involved in this amendment.

Mr. Dillon

This amendment is of more substance than the first amendment. I have no doubt it represents an improvement in the Bill and, for the same reasons as I commended amendment No. 1, I now commend amendment No. 2 for acceptance by the House.

Question put and agreed to.

Mr. Haughey

I move amendment No. 3:

Section 126: in page 46, a new subsection added as follows:—

"(4) (a) Every office under the control of the Registrar as such, or as Registrar of Deeds, shall be open to the public on such days and during such hours as the Minister for Justice may from time to time by order appoint.

(b) The Registry of Deeds Office (Ireland) Holidays Act, 1883, is hereby repealed.

(c) Notwithstanding section 2, this subsection shall come into operation on the passing of this Act."

This amendment is necessary because of the possibility of an alteration in the Civil Service hours of attendance. The amendment gives the Minister for Justice power to prescribe the hours during which both the Registry of Deeds and the Land Registry shall be open to the public.

Question put and agreed to.

Amendments reported and agreed to.