Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Jul 1924

Vol. 8 No. 8

PRIVATE BUSINESS. - REPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON STANDING ORDERS.

PADRAIC O MAILLE

The following is the Report of the Joint Committee on Private Bills:—

Report of the Joint Committee on Standing Orders (Private Business) that no notice of appeal from the Report of the Examiner of Private Bills has been received within the prescribed time in the case of the following Bills and that the said Bills are accordingly deemed to have been read a first time in the Seanad, viz.:—

Dundalk Harbour and Port Bill.

Apothecaries Hall, Dublin, Bill.

Dublin and District Electricity Supply Bill.

(Signed)

JAMES G. DOUGLAS,

Chairman.

1st July, 1924.

Ordered:—To lie on the Table.

PADRAIC O MAILLE

The following is the report of the Committee on Standing Orders (Private Business) on the Dublin United Tramways Bill, 1924:—

The Joint Committee on Standing Orders relative to Private Business report that in the case of the application for leave to introduce the Dublin United Tramways Bill, 1924, they have received an appeal, lodged by the Promoters of the Bill, against the decision of the Examiner, that the Standing Orders had not been complied with; that they have dismissed the appeal and affirmed the decision of the Examiner; that they recommend that compliance with Standing Order No. 8 be dispensed with in this case, and that leave be given to introduce the Bill.

(Signed) JAMES G. DOUGLAS,

Cathaoirleach.

9adh Iúl, 1924.

Standing Orders relative to Private Bills provide that the main object of the Bill should be advertised. The Examiner held that one of the main objects had not been advertised. If the report be agreed to, the Bill is deemed to have been read a First Time to-day in the Seanad. I propose that the report be agreed to.

Question proposed—"That the Report be agreed to."

Mr. JOHNSON

I do not know what the effect of this motion is, and I would like to know what the effect is before the motion is agreed to. I suggest that we should take the motion at a later stage so that we could understand the import of that report.

Major COOPER

I think I can relieve Deputy Johnson's mind without referring to the report at a later stage. The Examiner of Private Bills ruled that Standing Orders had not been complied with, one of the principal objects not having been set forth—that being to enable the Dublin Tramways Company to acquire shares in other transport companies. The Committee decided that such was a principal object, and it had not been inserted in the advertisements. Inasmuch as the section was included in the Articles of Association of the Tramway Company, no private individual was prejudiced by the fact that it did not appear in the advertisements, and the Committee recommended that the Standing Orders should be dispensed with. It was purely a matter for the shareholders of the company, and was already covered by the Articles of Association. The company cannot acquire shares by compulsion. They can only acquire them by consent, so no undertaking was prejudiced, and the shareholders were already safeguarded. No one is a bit the worse for it. It was purely a technical matter, and the Committee decided unanimously that compliance with the Standing Orders should be dispensed with.

Mr. JOHNSON

I would like to know what would be the effect of not accepting this Report of the Standing Orders Committee?

Major COOPER

If this Report is not accepted, presumably the Bill will cease to be, as the Standing Orders have not been complied with. If the recommendation that they be dispensed with is rejected by the Dáil the Bill can go no further. Incidentally, you put your Standing Orders Committee in an awkward position.

Mr. JOHNSON

In that case I ask that the discussion of this Motion be deferred until to-morrow.

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

The discussion on the motion that the Report be agreed to will be adjourned until to-morrow.