Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Friday, 19 Dec 1924

Vol. 9 No. 27

INTOXICATING LIQUOR (GENERAL) BILL, 1924. - REPORT OF CONFERENCE.

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

Since the adjournment a Message has been received from the Seanad and also the report of the Joint Conference. The Message from the Seanad is:

Seanad Eireann has this day passed the following resolution:—

"That the Seanad agree with the Dail in the resolution communicated to the Seanad on this day, that it is desirable that a conference be held on amendments Nos. 1, 2, and 9, made by the Seanad to the Intoxicating Liquor (General) Bill, 1924. on which the Seanad insisted, and that Senators Guinness, Desart, Farren, and Bennett represent the Seanad.

I have here the report of the Conference of Members representing the Dáil and the Seanad on certain amendments, made by the Seanad to the Intoxicating Liquor (General) Bill, 1924. and disagreed to by the Dáil.

1. The Conference was set up by resolution of the Dail, of the 19th December, which was concurred in by the Seanad on the same date.

2. The following Deputies were nominated to represent the Dáil at the Conference:—

Deputies Johnson, P. J. Egan, Daly, Baxter, and Lyons; and the following Senators to represent the Seanad:—Senators Guinness, Colonel Moore, The Countess of Desart, Farren, and Bennett.

3. The Conference met at 2.30 p.m. to-day in Committee Room No. 2 of the Dáil.

4. The following members were present:—

Deputies Johnson, P. J. Egan, Daly, and Lyons; Senators Guinness, Colonel Moore, The Countess of Desart, Farren, and Bennett.

Deputy Johnson was moved to the Chair.

5. The Conference decided to recommend—

(1) That the Dáil agree to amendments 1 and 2 to which it had previously disagreed, but insist upon its disagreement to amendment 9.

(2) That the Seanad do not insist on amendment 9.

6. The Conference reports accordingly.

(Sighnithe)

THOMAS JOHNSON.

CATHAOIRLEACH NA CODHALA.

Mr. BAXTER

I want to say that as I thought three o'clock was the hour for the meeting instead of 2.30, I failed to put in an appearance. I want to have it recorded that I am in agreement with the decision arrived at.

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

The Message will now be considered.

Mr. JOHNSON

I take it that a formal resolution will be required?

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

Yes. The motion required if the conference report is agreed to, is:—

That the Dáil agrees to Amendments 1 and 2 made by the Seanad to the Intoxicating Liquor (General) Bill, 1924, to which it has previously disagreed.

Report adopted.

Mr. JOHNSON

I formally move that motion.

Mr. LYONS

I wish to get some information on that point. As one of the members appointed on the Committee, I agree with the findings, but I think it is specified that the Dáil should agree to Amendments 1 and 2 without the other proviso.

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

Which proviso?

Mr. LYONS

The proviso by the Seanad as to Amendment 9.

Mr. JOHNSON

I think Deputy Lyons does not quite understand the position. The Dáil has disagreed with the Seanad amendment regarding structural alterations before it came under consideration at the Committee. We are not interfering with that disagreement. That disagreement remains, and therefore the Dáil has nothing more to say to that matter. We are asking the Dáil to agree to the Seanad amendments Nos. 1 and 2 respecting St. Patrick's Day closing, with which we had previously disagreed.

Mr. LYONS

I understand that. What I want the Dáil to do is to accept the decision arrived at by the Joint Conference, as it stands, not specifying any amendment.

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

That would be impossible. As a matter of procedure, the Bill could not become law on that kind of a resolution. We must actually record our decision on the given amendments in order that the Bill may become law. The Bill could not become law on a motion of the Dáil agreeing to the report of the conference. We must make provision now by actually withdrawing our disagreement to Amendments 1 and 2. The Seanad must pass a resolution with regard to Amendment 9, that they are not insisting on it, otherwise the Bill could not become law.

Mr. LYONS

I am quite satisfied if the Dail agrees to the findings of the Conference.

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

This means that the Dáil has agreed to the report of the Conference.

Mr. DALY

Am I to understand that Deputy Johnson is proposing the adoption of the findings of the Joint Committee?

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

No. We are taking the report of the conference as adopted and moving a motion consequent upon that adoption.

PADRAIC O MAILLE

I formally second the motion.

Question put and agreed to.

Ordered—"That a Message be sent to the Seanad accordingly."