Vol. 17 No. 8
The following Message has been received from the Dáil:—
"Tá Dáil Eireann tar éis aontú leis na leasuithe 1, 5 agus 7 do rinne Seanad Eireann ar Bhille na nOispidéal Puiblí, 1933; tá sí tar éis diúltú do sna leasuithe 2, 3, 4 agus 6;
le n-ar mian léi aontú Sheanad Eireann d'fháil.
Dáil Eireann has agreed to amendments 1, 5 and 7 made by Seanad Eireann to the Public Hospitals Bill, 1933; it has disagreed to amendments 2, 3, 4 and 6;
to which the agreement of Seanad Eireann is desired."
I move:—
That the Seanad do not insist on amendment No. 2.
I second.
I would like to have from the Parliamentary Secretary an explanation of the reason why the Dáil disagreed with the amendment. It was only permissive. I see no reason why it should be excluded, and until I hear what the Parliamentary Secretary has to say I will withhold my decision.
There is nothing to add by way of explanation that has not been put before the House in considerable detail. On the Report Stage when discussing the amendment in the name of Senator Dowdall I said:
"I have given a considerable amount of thought to the question, both since it came before this House and while it was before the Dáil. I think if the matter were not pressed on this particular Bill and if Senator Dowdall and the House would agree to the withdrawal of the amendment until the question had further examination, I would undertake to the House to try to bring together the nursing organisations, the Committee of the Associated Hospitals and the various interested parties to see if a pension scheme could be evolved and, possibly, a benevolent fund established apart from any contributory pension scheme that might be evolved."
Senator Dowdall, continuing the debate, stated:
"In view of the statement made by the Parliamentary Secretary, I ask leave of the House to withdraw the amendment. When I was tabling this amendment I did recognise that this was a very complicated matter. I am pleased to learn that the Parliamentary Secretary has devoted his attention to this, and I am sure, having regard to what he has said, that if all we desire is not obtained, a considerable amount will be obtained. I do not know what the procedure is as regards deleting the amendments already adopted, but if the Minister moves in the Dáil to disagree with them, I can assure him that when the matter comes again before the Seanad he will have my support."
And then Sir E. Coey Bigger stated:—
"I welcome the statement made by the Parliamentary Secretary. I think he has taken a very wise and judicious course."
I did not quite gather what Senator Dowdall had said and when the Parliamentary Secretary stated that he was going to bring all these hospitals and associations together, I thought it was in furtherance of the scheme before the House. However, if the Parliamentary Secretary intends to introduce a further Bill with the same object, I am quite ready to accept that.
I move: That the Seanad do not insist on amendment No. 3 to the Public Hospitals Bill.
I second.
I move: That the Seanad do not insist on amendment No. 4 to the Public Hospitals Bill, 1933.
I second.
I move: That the Seanad do not insist on amendment No. 6 to the Public Hospitals Bill, 1933.
I second.
