The question is: "That the Bill be read a Second Time."
PRIVATE BUSINESS. - TEACHERS SUPERANNUATION BILL, 1928—SECOND STAGE.
CATHAOIRLEACH
This is permissive. It reads: "The Minister may," and so on. Why is it worded in that way? Could he not prepare a scheme without getting this Bill at all?
This is an enabling Bill. It enables us to frame a pension scheme for secondary teachers. There are categories of teachers that may have to be dealt with later. The most urgent at the moment is the secondary teachers. Without a Bill dealing specifically with that category, or an enabling Bill under which we could bring in a scheme, we could not do this. It is a general enabling Bill to enable the Ministers for Education and Finance to put forward schemes. These schemes will have to be passed by both Houses. They will actually have to be assented to by both Houses. The most urgent scheme at the moment is one for secondary teachers.
Question put and agreed to.