Deputy Murphy has charged us with only two sins of omission. I would be very pleased if there were only two sins of commission charged against me. I think the Deputy will admit that a considerable amount of legislation has been introduced during the year, that the Dáil has been in continuous session for a very considerable time, and that even to-day quite a number of Bills were introduced which we cannot get beyond the First Stage. It so happens, as Deputies are generally aware, that the early spring and summer recess is mainly devoted to financial business, and that the introduction of financial business here in the House does not by any means represent the amount of time absorbed in giving consideration to the introduction of that business before it reaches the stage when it is brought before the Oireachtas.
The two matters to which Deputy Murphy referred—the regulation of traffic and the control of the speed of buses, and so on—have been engaging attention for a very considerable period. Recommendations have been quite recently before the Executive Council, and it is hoped—I do not think I would be justified in saying more than that— to introduce in the autumn session a Bill dealing with the matter of the regulation of traffic, and so on. I speak from recollection, but the subject mentioned by Deputy Briscoe was one of those which was dealt with in the report which was under the consideration of the Executive Council. However, I cannot say more than that proposals are at present before the Departments concerned, and they have actually got a first hearing before the Executive Council in connection with the matter of traffic.
With regard to the second matter mentioned by Deputy Murphy, a report by the Commission of Inquiry into the claims made by ex-Servicemen was made last autumn. As I have stated already in the House, various departments of State were circularised on the subject matter of that report. Replies have come in from all these departments with the exception of one. I anticipate that within the next month or two we shall have a reply from that department. That is the department which is most concerned with financial business. It would have been unreasonable to have expected a reply from that department before the financial business of the country was dealt with. Therefore it is a matter on which I do not expect to be able to make any announcement before the autumn session.
The third matter, mentioned by Deputy O'Kelly, is a matter which has engaged the personal attention of the Minister for Local Government, to my own knowledge, for the last twelve months or more. During the winter the Minister had some sort of working arrangement with the Poor Law authorities in the city and some of the charitable organisations in the city, with a view to giving more assistance than had been the practice. I think the Deputy will admit that the Bill that was brought forward here to-day, while it might make it legally possible for more extended operations on the part of the Poor Law authorities, suffered from one inherent weakness, and that is, that the Poor Law authorities in the City and County of Dublin would be called upon to spend money which had not been levied in the year. As the Deputy knows, having had experience of public administration, the rate-payer's life is but for twelve months, and the ratepayers of to-day would get an advantage which would have to be paid for by the ratepayers in the next year. Next year's ratepayers would have to bear the cost for next year and portion of whatever cost would be incurred this year.
I admit that a good case has been made by the Deputy—and a good case can be made—in respect of able-bodied persons unable to get employment. I will undertake to see the Minister for Local Government on the matter. As the Deputy is aware, the real difficulty arises where money has not been provided for the purpose. I will undertake, at any rate, to see what can be done and to see if provision can be made for those in need of it. The law ought not to stand in the way of providing relief for necessitous cases. Even though the law may be against us on the point, I think that no administrator, no judge would hold that one would not be justified, even if the law did not permit, in providing relief for necessitous cases. I am glad the Deputy has emphasised that this is not a matter that calls for political treatment. It is one of many matters that does not call for political treatment. It ought to be the concern and the duty of all Parties in the State to lend aid in solving problems such as it presents, and which, unfortunately, are common to humanity.
