Before we proceed with any other business I wish to say that we have some messages from the Seanad. "Seanad Eireann has passed the Treaty (Confirmation) Amendment Bill, 1925, and has passed a resolution declaring that the Bill is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace and safety, and that, accordingly, the provisions of Article XLVII. of the Constitution of Saorstát Eireann shall not apply to that Bill. Seanad Eireann has this day rejected the Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill. The Seanad has passed the Electricity Supply (Special Powers) Bill, 1925. It has inserted a new sub-section at the end of Section 3."
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE. - MESSAGE FROM THE SEANAD.
I move the acceptance of that amendment. I understand that the Minister is prepared to accept it. I think he will shortly be available to make some explanation.
Surely we cannot deal with the amendment unless we see it?
It has been circulated.
If there is any objection we cannot take it?
I have not seen it yet; it has not come to us. Is there any urgency about this amendment?
I think it is the desire to dispose of the Bill as soon as possible and perhaps there would be an adjournment until after Christmas to-night. The amendment is one which was mentioned in the Dáil, and the Minister has expressed his willingness to accept it. I think it was not put down through some delay, until the Bill had reached its final stage, and in consequence it was ruled out of order. The amendment is as follows:—
A new sub-section added at the end of Section 3 as follows:—
"(2) Where the premises to which a supply of electricity is proposed to be given under this section are situate in the area of supply of an authorised undertaker, the Minister shall not approve of the giving of the supply under this section unless or until he is satisfied that such authorised undertaker is either unable or unwilling to give the supply."
The position at present is that a statutory undertaken in any particular area has practically the monopoly of supplying electricity within his area, and this is to provide that electricity shall not be supplied to premises within that area by some other undertaker, unless the Minister is satisfied that the existing authorised undertaker is either unable or unwilling to supply.
Apart from the merits, I think it is a very dangerous procedure, unless there is very great urgency, to bring forward an amendment which passed the Seanad to-day and ask us to pass it here within a half-hour of the adjournment. There are twenty or twenty-five members here, but the Deputies who may be specially interested in this had no notice of it, and I would urge seriously that unless there is very special reason for taking it now, it should be held over.
Why are they not here?
I am scarcely in a position to say that this is very pressing, but I would say that the amendment does not lend itself to much criticism. I take it to mean that the Minister will not, if called upon, authorise or approve of a supply of electricity unless the authorised undertaker is either unwilling or unable to give a supply. It does not appear to me to be a matter upon which there could be very many different views, but if Deputy Johnson persists in his objection I suppose we cannot press it.
I am not objecting with any desire to obstruct or delay the passing of the Bill, but I feel that it is too serious a matter to deal with legislation in this fashion. After all, whatever Bill is before us is going to affect a considerable number of citizens, and if we are to take a responsible view of our duties, I must protest against an amendment being taken which has come from the Seanad, at 8 o'clock at night, nobody having had any notice of what it may imply or entail, unless it is very urgent.
I do not propose to press it further.