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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 14 Dec 1922

Vol. 2 No. 6

ADAPTATION OF BRITISH ENACTMENTS BILL. - MINISTER OF FINANCE MAY APPORTION GRANTS.

I move Clause 10, as follows:—

"10. Wherever under any British Statute any grant, whether annual or capital or any loan or advance is directed or authorized to be made by the Treasury out of the Consolidated Fund or by the Treasury or any other Government Department out of any other fund or any sum of money is authorised to be borrowed by the Treasury or any other Government Department and the amount or the maximum or minimum limit of such grant, loan, advance or sum of money is by such Act or otherwise fixed either for the whole of the late United Kingdom or for any part thereof which included the area now comprised in Saorstát Eireann, the Minister for Finance (in addition to the adaptations of such Act made by or under this Act) may by order apportion such amount or limit between Saorstát Eireann and the rest of the area in respect of which such amount or limit is fixed as aforesaid, and may by such order fix the amount or the maximum or minimum limit (as the case may be) of such grant, loan, advance or sum of money to be made or borrowed under such Act in Saorstát Eireann."

I would just raise this question—I have done it by a proposed amendment—whether the Finance Minister can apportion the amounts or limit the amounts as between Saorstát Eireann and the rest of the area—whether that could be done except by agreement with the British Ministers? It seems rather as though we are taking authority which we cannot use. Whether it is quite clear, or whether it is a slip, I do not know, and I have suggested deleting the words after the words "and made by such order." To put in a Bill a claim that the Minister for Finance may apportion the sums as between two countries rather puts us in a position of authority over the other country, and I am not sure that we are entitled to do that.

The meaning of it is you ascertain the proportionate amounts rather than decide really what the amount is.

I am not objecting to it. If you can obtain that power, by all means do so.

It is not meant in that all-powerful sense.

I withdraw the amendment.

I propose as an amendment to substitute in lines 10, 17, 25, 29 and 34, the word "Statutes" for the word "Acts."

Amendment put and agreed to.
Motion made and question put "That Clause 10, as amended, stand part of the Bill."
Agreed.
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