said his Department would be more expensive if he had to function publicly. He was anxious to know how they were going to exercise powers when the Dáil could not meet. There were very extensive powers given to the Ministry on one occasion. The Dáil would have to give discretionary powers either to the Ministry or to the Grand Committee which they were setting up.
ESTIMATE FOR PRESIDENT'S DEPARTMENT
said the position up to the June meeting last year was that from a previous meeting the Ministry had discretionary powers for expenditure of something like £50,000. That power was not exceeded up to the June meeting and at that meeting certain estimates were passed and a contingency vote of £20,000. After that June meeting they had meetings regularly, and at the last meeting the contingency vote carried them into February. They always had enough to carry on.
The position now was he expected these estimates would in the ordinary way cover the workings of all the Departments, therefore the contingency vote need not be very great. He did not know if the Dáil would care to give discretionary powers to meet emergencies which might arise. The Trustees' Deed provided for occasions on which the Dáil could not meet. Then the Trustees had power to disburse on their own account. He dared say if a position arose that the Dáil or the Ministry could not meet the only thing then would be for the Trustees to exercise their powers. If they wanted to meet emergencies the only way to meet the case was discretionary powers to the Ministry.
He then read the estimates as they were passed. The estimate for the President's Department £1,500 was based on expenditure since Christmas last. He moved it be increased to £2,500. Details—special work £400; salaries £200; Minister's allowance £300; contingencies £1,600. He suggested that the new Department of Fine Arts and Economics be put into the contingency vote. He asked for a contingency vote of £20,000. There was one other point to be mentioned. They got a special amount of £15,000 from the U.S.A. which did not appear on these accounts. That £15,000 was collected by Mr. Ginnell and sent to the Dáil to be used in relief in any special way the Dáil wished. He submitted that amount should be placed at the disposal of the Ministry.
He then moved the total estimate amounting to £144,740 excluding the £15,000 placed at the disposal of the Ministry.
Detailed as follows:—
|
£ |
|
|
Department of Publicity |
5,000 |
|
""Fisheries |
650 |
|
""Irish |
8,800 |
|
""Finance |
7,300 |
|
""Trustees |
1,750 |
|
""Agriculture & Forestry |
6,800 |
|
""Home Affairs |
13,150 |
|
""Secretariat |
2,500 |
|
""Labour |
5,800 |
|
""Trade & Commerce |
14,750 |
|
""Local Government |
10,040 |
|
""Foreign Affairs |
45,700 |
|
President's Department |
2,500 |
|
Vote for Contingencies |
20,000 |
|
TOTAL |
144,740 |
seconded the adoption of the estimates.
Question put and agreed.
proposed adjournment of the Dáil till 11 a.m. on Friday.
seconded.
Adopted.
D'éirigh an Dáil ar 7.10 p.m.