I move that the Railways Bill do now pass.
QUESTION ON ADJOURNMENT. - RAILWAYS BILL, 1924.—FIFTH STAGE.
In view of the urgency of the Intoxicating Liquor Bill I do not wish to cause any annoyance to the Minister for Justice by holding it up any longer, but I have glanced over this Bill as reprinted, and I should like to draw the attention of the Minister for Industry and Commerce to a very important printer's omission in Section 31, line 49, where the word "maximum" is omitted.
Yes, "maximum" should be in.
This is an illustration of the dangers of haste with an overworked staff. I cannot guarantee that the proofs of Bills which are passed with rapidity, and which are amended heavily, can be properly read if one stage is taken within two days of the previous stage. Is that the only error? There are probably others.
I have only glanced over it.
There is a certain amount of justification for this omission. The cause of this was that an amendment was put in at a peculiar period of the Bill, and the first draft of the Bill omitted the word "maximum." Deputy Davin himself drew my attention in the typescript to the fact that the word "maximum" was omitted. It was then spoken of here in the Dáil, and it is conceivable how the error arose. I can guarantee to have it brought forward in the Seanad.
If the word "maximum" was in the actual amendment passed, then we can insert the word "maximum" now," and have it in the Bill sent to the Seanad.
I think the Official Report will show distinctly that the word "maximum" was in it.
Very well, we will rectify that error before the Bill goes to the Seanad.
I will not trespass on the time of the Dáil to any extent, but I feel that in this last opportunity I would like to make a few valedictory remarks on the Bill before it leaves this Chamber. This Bill is very important as regards the future. As the Dáil is aware, I have not confined myself to silence in the passing of the Bill; probably I have managed to try the patience of the Dáil, and therefore I will not trespass on the patience of the Deputies now to any great extent in saying goodbye to the Bill. It has been forced through the Dáil, I cannot say without due consideration, but with very full consideration, and I think every Deputy must by this time be fully conversant with the whole plan as outlined in the Bill. Of course, the President is deeply interested in it. He has told us what his opinion is of business men, and I hope it was for the good of the business men to have heard that plain speech from the Government. Other Deputies have helped the measure through. They are the elected representatives of the people, and no doubt they are sure they are voicing the opinions of the people as a whole. The opposition that I put forward was on my own responsibility, and my responsibility to my constituents. In due course, I presume, the Bill will be put into operation, and I hope the Deputies as representing their constituencies will benefit by it and be pleased with it.
We are quite confident.
Question—"That the Bill do now pass"—put and agreed to.
Bill ordered to be sent to the Seanad.