On behalf of Senator Milroy I move amendment 1: Section 20, sub-section (1). To delete in lines 52-53 the words "From and after the expiration of six months from the passing of this Act."
Merchandise Marks Bill, 1931—Committee.
Sections 1 to 19, inclusive, agreed to.
SECTION 20 (1)
(1) From and after the expiration of six months from the passing of this Act, it shall not be lawful for any person to sell or expose for sale...
This amendment, and the one that follows, must be taken together. Amendment No. 1 merely proposes the deletion of the period six months which, as the Bill stands, would have to elapse before this part of the legislation could be put into operation. Under paragraph (c) of amendment 2, the Minister may, while keeping the six months' period ordinarily, operate the Bill in exceptional circumstances and in peculiar cases earlier than that time. I ask the House to give me both amendments because consideration of a particular economic trade matter in the country leads me to the conclusion that use may have to be made, and can be profitably made, of this measure earlier than the six months' period. Ordinarily, the six months period would be observed, but I want to be able to use the powers given earlier in the exceptional circumstances which have revealed themselves.
Amendment agreed to.
On behalf of Senator Milroy I move amendment 2:
Section 20, sub-section (5). To insert before the sub-section a new sub-section as follows:—
(5) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to the coming into force of this section, that is to say —
(a) in this sub-section the expression "the appointed day" means the day next following the expiration of six months from the passing of this Act;
(b) subject to the provisions of the next succeeding paragraph of this sub-section this section shall come into force on the appointed day;
(c) the Minister for Industry and Commerce may, at any time after the passing of this Act and before the appointed day, by order made in relation to imported goods of a particular class or description declare that this section shall, so far as it relates to imported goods of that class or description, come into force on such day (not being earlier than the date of such order or less than seven days after such date or later than the appointed day) as may be specified in that behalf in such order, and whenever any such order is made this section shall, in relation to imported goods of the class or description to which such order relates, come into force on the day specified in that behalf in such order;
(d) every order made under this sub-section shall be published in the Iris Oifigiúil as soon as may be after it is made.
This is consequential on the previous amendment.
Amendment agreed to.
Section 20, as amended, agreed to.
Sections 21 to 36, inclusive, agreed to.
Schedule and Title agreed to.
Bill ordered to be reported.
The Seanad went out of Committee.
Bill reported with amendments.