I ask the leave of the House to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend and consolidate the law relating to the protection of wild birds. Very shortly stated, the object of the Bill is this: The existing law for the protection of wild birds consists of six British Acts of Parliament which we took over when the Free State was established. They began in 1880 and they go on to 1908. Each of them either repeals, amends, or adds to certain provisions of the others with the result that the law is in a state of great difficulty and confusion. The present Bill repeals all those Acts, codifies all their provisions, and, in addition, includes provisions that were comprised in the short Bill for the protection of birds which passed this House in 1927, and one other provision which prevents the exportation of certain birds such as singing birds from this country. I have got the support of five other members in the House.
