I move as an amendment:—
To add at the end of the motion the words:
"and that it is expedient that a Special Committee consisting of seven Senators, of whom four shall form a quorum, be appointed to consider and report whether any legal disability exists to prevent the Commissioners acting as Guardians of the Poor in Dublin from giving adequate relief to persons who are in need or distress through unemployment, or incapacitated through sickness or accident, or to the families of such persons, or to necessitous widows with dependent children."
I do not think it is necessary at all to deal with the evil that was discussed on the previous occasion, or with the difficulties or problems that were outlined by Senator Byrne and supplemented by other speakers. It will be remembered that the motion, as moved by Senator Byrne and seconded by Senator Sir Edward Bigger, was supported by other Senators representing different sides of this House. There was, it seemed to me, agreement that some practical steps should be taken to find out whether any difficulty of a legal kind existed to prevent these evils that were complained of being dealt with. We have not, I think, the duty imposed on us to deal with the administration of affairs, but we have a duty imposed on us in respect of the state of the law in such things as this covers, and it is, therefore, my duty to ask the House to approve that the House should make some inquiry as to what it is, that prevents the evils, of which complaints are made, being remedied. It is believed that the state of the law is such that it deprives the Commissioners of the power to do what they would like to do. Whether that is so or not may be questioned, but at any rate it is desirable that the House should be made aware of the facts in regard to this matter, and that it should endeavour to bring about such an amendment as is necessary if it is a question of amending the law. I think Senator Byrne is willing to accept my amendment as an addendum to his motion, and I ask the House to approve.
