This is a short Bill which extends, for another year, power for the acquisition of premises for the housing of the Civic Guards. The Board of Works have not yet succeeded in building new premises all over the country for the Civic Guards, though they are getting on with the work with reasonable expedition. This Bill enables premises to be kept on for the use of the Civic Guards. I may say that the powers under it are exercised in only very few cases, and in no case are they exercised so that hardship is caused to the owners of the premises.
Civic Guard (Acquisition of Premises) (Amendment) Bill, 1930—Second Stage.
Question proposed—"That this Bill be read a Second Time."
I would like to take advantage of the Second Reading of this Bill to call attention to what I consider an important matter in connection with the provision of houses for the Civic Guards. I was informed quite recently that in connection with the proposed erection of a Civic Guards barracks in the suburbs of Dublin the plans submitted provided that Irish material and Irish stone should be used. I understand that the Department of Finance refused to sanction that, and that as a result foreign materials are about to be used in the erection of the building. It appears to me an extraordinary thing, when we erect barracks for the housing of the Civic Guards and put a tablet on the outside of them in Irish to indicate that the building is occupied by members of the Gárda Síochána, that the only thing Irish about the structures are the men who occupy them. The action taken by the Department of Finance in this matter strikes me as an example of economy gone mad. Within a few miles of where it is proposed to erect the barracks in South Dublin there is ample building material of the finest quality available for house building. I think it is a shame that the money which the people contribute and portion of which is intended for the erection of these buildings should be exported out of the country for the purchase of foreign materials. There is not much use in calling a building an Irish building when the only thing Irish about it are the people who occupy it. I take this opportunity of raising this question and of calling the attention of the Minister to it.
I have nothing to do with this particular matter.
I know that, but the Department for which the Minister is responsible should insist on the Department of Finance giving a preference for the use of Irish materrials in the case of buildings that are put up out of moneys voted by the Oireachtas. We ask for internal loans and when we get them we propose to expend the money externally. I think that is a shame.
I would like to point out to the Senator that this Bill is not in any way concerned with the erection of new buildings.
I know that.
As the Senator knows that, then he was irrelevant all the time he was speaking, and, that being so, I have nothing more to say.
I think the Minister should use his influence with the Cabinet to see that Irish materials are used in the erection of these buildings.
As I have already stated, this Bill has nothing whatever to do with the erection of new premises.
I did not say that it had.
Question put and agreed to.
Committee Stage ordered for Wednesday, 4th June, 1930.