On Section 11, Sir, I made a point, tentatively, last week as to whether Section 11 introduced any new formula. I happened not to remember the fact that this formula has been operating for quite a number of years, but I am still doubtful as to the validity of this term "the Exchequer," as I do not think we provided, in our financial legislation, for an Exchequer. I do not think it is defined, but it has been used regularly and I take it that by that usage it has become well understood. Sub-section (2) of this section, however, appears to be an introduction of a new sub-section in reference to the collection and disposal of fees. I am not going to ask the Minister now to explain the effect of it but, in fact, so far as I can see by looking up previous Acts of this kind, there is no suggestion in any other Act that the Public Offices Fees Act of 1879 shall not apply, and it would be interesting to know at some point—although I shall not ask the Minister to put himself out very much in regard to it— why this sub-section is necessary under this Act when it has not been necessary under any previous Act where the Minister for Finance is given power to dispose of fees received in respect of one service or another. I am not going to raise the general question seriously now, but I am interested to find that for quite a number of years we have been giving power to the Minister for Finance to direct how fees received shall be collected and how they shall be disposed of. It is a considerable power to give, especially when the fees are very large, as they may become by this new category of legislation. When fees were small, one could understand that power being given to the Minister, but when they may become large, by a cumulative process under this group of Acts it might be desirable that the Dáil should reconsider whether or not this power should be left to the Minister for Finance.
Public Business. - Sugar (Control of Import) Bill, 1936— Committee Stage.
Question—"That the Title of the Bill be postponed"—put and agreed to.
Sections 1 to 10, inclusive, put and agreed to.
SECTION 11.
Question proposed: "That Section 11 stand part of the Bill."
If the Senator will raise the question of the effect of sub-section (2) on another stage I may be able to deal with it. It is purely a formula.
Sections 11 and 12 agreed to.
Short Title and Title of the Bill put and agreed to.
Bill reported without amendment.
Ordered that the Report Stage be taken on Wednesday, 1st of April.