I should like to refer the Minister to his remarks in regard to the change-over date. A number of committees of agriculture will have their annual meeting within the next three or four weeks. Some of them will have their meeting between the third week of June and the second week of July. If the Minister has not designated the date in accordance with section 2 can he give some guidance as to what those committees of agriculture are to do as regards their annual meetings?
Agriculture (Amendment) Bill, 1979: Committee and Final Stages.
Section 1 agreed to.
SECTION 2.
Question proposed: "That section 2 stand part of the Bill."
The legislation does not affect the annual meetings of the committees. The annual meetings can proceed after the committees are reappointed. If a change is necessary the new committee can make such a change.
I accept that, but it puts the county council in a position where they may feel obliged to hold the annual meeting of the committee on a certain date. The Minister may say there is no reference in the Bill as to when they hold their annual meeting and it does not matter, in other words, when the county council hold it or, accordingly, when the county committee of agriculture hold their annual meeting. Will we want the ridiculous situation where a committee of agriculture in accordange with the present law hold their annual meeting in the second week in July and then three weeks later have to hold a completely new meeting which amounts to another annual meeting?
When this becomes law and the order is made for a county committee to change the old committee is suspended and you start afresh.
I see no reason why the Minister should not designate the date within the next week or two. It would get county committees out of a ridiculous situation if they feel obliged to hold their annual meeting in three weeks' time.
Question put and agreed to.
SECTION 3.
Question proposed: "That section 3 stand part of the Bill."
Will the Minister say what is in section 26 (2) of the AnCOT Act which bears reference to paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of this Act?
Section 26 (1) of the AnCOT Act makes changes to the Second Schedule of the 1931 Act and provides a new format of committee. Section 26 (2) provides that section 26 (1) will have effect in respect of each county council as from its annual meeting in the next election year after the commencement of the Act. The other provision of section 3 (b), the amendment of the principal Act set out in section 26 (1) of the AnCOT Act, would not come into operation until after the next local elections in June 1984.
I wanted to confirm that the words "election year" were in that subsection of the 1979 Act.
Question put and agreed to.
Section 4 agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill reported without amendment, received for final consideration and passed.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
Before proceeding to the next item could we have an indication as to when the Seanad will meet again?
Tuesday, 17 June at 2.30 p.m.