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Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Jul 1924

Vol. 3 No. 11

STATE HARBOURS BILL, 1924.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

In the matter of the State Harbours Bill, 1924, there has been a message received from the Dáil stating that they have passed the following resolution:—

"Go gcuirtar Bille na gCuanta Stáit, 1924, chun Có-Choiste den dá Thigh a hainmneofar do réir forálacha Buan-Ordú 61 (Gnó Príobháideach);

Go gcuirtar chun an Chó-Choiste gach Achuinge a tíolacfar i gcoinnibh an Bhille trí lá glan roimh an dáta a socruíodh i gcóir cruinniú an Chó-Choiste go n-éistear na hAchuingeoirí i bpearsain no tré ná nAbhcóidí no tré n-a nGníomhairí i gcoinnibh an Bhille, agus go n-éistear Abhcóidí no Gníomhairí i leith an Bhille."

"That the State Harbours Bill, 1924, be referred to a Joint Committee of both Houses to be nominated in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 61 (Private Business);

That all petitions against the Bill presented three clear days before the date fixed for the meeting of the Joint Committee be referred to the Joint Committee, that the petitioners be heard either personally or by their counsel or agents against the Bill, and that counsel or agents be heard in support of the Bill."

I move that the Seanad do concur with the Dáil in the Resolution that has just been read. In doing so it might be convenient if I were to explain to the Seanad the circumstances under which this Resolution comes before us. This is the first case of what is known as a hybrid Bill, and a hybrid Bill is one which, having been introduced as a public Bill, is, in the opinion of the Chairman of the Dáil in which it was introduced, one that should, nevertheless, as private interests were affected, comply with the Standing Orders relative to Private Business. Consequently the Ceann Comhairle referred this Bill on his own authority, as provided in the Order, to the Examiner, and the Examiner has sent a message that this Bill has complied with the Standing Orders relative to Private Business. When the Bill is a hybrid Bill it is treated, as far as the Committee's examination is concerned, the same as a Private Bill, but in all other stages it is treated as a public Bill. The object of that is that private interests may petition during the Committee Stage, which is proposed to be by Joint Committee, exactly the same as a Private Bill, and their interests can be so heard. After that has taken place the Bill can be dealt with as a public Bill. Standing Order 52, which deals with a hybrid Bill, is not quite complete, and therefore it is necessary to add to the Resolution which was passed in the Dáil the second part of this Resolution with reference to petitions. I think I am safe in stating that the Committee on Standing Orders for Private Business will propose an addition to the Orders which will make it unnecessary in future in private Bills to have an elaborate Resolution like this.

Motion: "That the Seanad do concur with the message received from the Dáil and that the usual steps be taken under the Standing Orders to appoint our nominees to this Joint Standing Committee"—put and agreed to.
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