I am in a rather difficult position about this Bill. As I have stated, I do not know exactly what provision in it the Dáil, as a whole, objects to. If I thought I could get agreement on the Bill—that is, with amendments—it would be the best way to get out of the difficulty. Perhaps if I agree in Section 2, which is a contentious section, not to make any additions to those who would come within the scope of the Bill without laying the Order on the Table of both Houses of the Oireachtas, it might get over that difficulty. I would also, if the House is willing, agree to drop Section 10 and even, if necessary, to drop Section 12.
LOCAL AUTHORITIES (OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES) BILL, 1926.
Would the Minister face this question: Is he prepared to alter the Bill in such a way that the Local Appointments Commissioners will be acting on behalf of the local authorities rather than on behalf of the Minister?
I do not know how I could fix that. I think we could arrive at agreement on that in the Committee Stage. I do not really think there is anything contentious in the Bill from what I could gather in the debate.
Sub-section 2, Section 6, states that the Commissioners shall select and recommend to the Minister. Let them recommend to the local authorities.
If the Deputy in the Committee Stage can put up some such proposal I will consider it.
I trust the Dáil will agree to the suggestion of the Minister. I think it would be most disastrous that this Bill, at this stage, should be stopped. It is one of the most necessary and important pieces of legislation that the Government have attempted to bring in. I do not see why the Bill should take a very long time to go through. I am quite sure that the Minister would agree to the suggestion made by Deputy Johnson that as far as many of the appointments are concerned these should be placed upon a panel, and let the panel go to the local authorities for selection.
That is one of the main points.
I am quite sure the Minister would be able to meet us. At all events, I would support the proposal very strongly. But I do suggest that this Bill is of such great importance that it would be a great pity to mutilate it at the present stage, in present conditions, because of the great necessity for it, not only in regard to the matter I mentioned the night before last, but in regard to other matters. I hope that Deputy Johnson and Deputy Baxter will withdraw their objections and let the Bill go through, particularly as the Minister has shown that he is willing to meet us in one or two directions.
I wish to urge upon the Dáil the necessity for this Bill. This is a food-producing country, and unfortunately, as a food-producing country, it has an unsavoury reputation in our chief market. It is often said that we have no county medical officers of health, as in England, to look after the food supplies. If only for that reason it is very important. Sir James Craig has made a suggestion in regard to a panel.
Keep away from the merits of the Bill.
I know that the Bill would not receive any favour from the medical profession if the best men are not selected. We do not want camouflage.
The suggestion of the Minister would seem to me, at any rate, worth trying. It is worth the experiment to see if the Bill could, in Committee, be amended without a great deal of debate. To accomplish that, the best suggestion would be to fix the Committee Stage for, at least, a fortnight ahead and have amendments tabled within a week. An endeavour could be made in the second week to see whether the movers of the amendment and the Minister could come to any kind of working agreement. Would that suggestion meet with favour?
Certainly.
So far as we are concerned, we do not want to be unreasonable. I think the Minister is prepared to go a certain distance to meet us.
Committee Stage ordered for Tuesday, June 8th.