Vol. 15 No. 12
I move:
"That the Seanad hereby approves of the Illegitimate Children (Affiliation Orders) Act, 1930, Rules 1931, made by the Minister for Justice on the 22nd day of December, 1931, under Section 91 of the Courts of Justice Act, 1924 (No. 10 of 1924), a copy of which was laid on the Table of the Seanad on the 27th day of April, 1932, and resolves that it is expedient that such Rules shall come into operation on the 1st day of July, 1932."
I second.
The Rules of the Illegitimate Children (Affiliation Orders) Act have, as has been stated, been laid on the Table of this House and there is really very little to be said about them. They were laid on the Table of the House on the 27th of April and will come into operation, if approved of by both Houses, on the 1st July. The reason for selecting the 1st July is that it affords sufficient time for the circulation of the Rules amongst solicitors, barristers, clerks of District Courts, and other persons who will have much to do with the carrying out of the Rules. The date will probably commend itself to the House as a reasonable date. The Rules are very largely formal and the procedure laid down is in accordance with the existing Rules and practice of District Courts. Section 16 of the Statute itself provides that the procedure and practice under the Act shall be regulated by Rules of Court before making these Rules of Court. I understand that my predecessor in the office of Minister for Justice thought it might be well to observe the practical operation of the Act for some time, so as to be better able to judge then what rules would be suitable and be required for the smooth running of the Act. That is the explanation of any delay that might otherwise appear to have taken place in the formulation and constitution of the rules. Having observed the working of the Act, the rules were made on the 22nd December, 1931. As a perusal of the print of the rules will show, they have been approved by at least the majority of the Rule-making Committee, and signed by the former Attorney-General, the former Minister for Justice, and the former Minister for Finance. I think the rules are really self-explanatory, and it is not necessary for me to elaborate them further.
