Deputies must have noticed that all through this debate neither the Minister for Defence not any other Minister or supporter of the Cumann na nGaedheal Party has made any real case which they could stand over for the abolition of the powers of the Comptroller and Auditor-General in relation to Military Service Pensions. We have stressed the necessity for some audit upon which the people can depend so that expenses incurred by the Government and payments made by the different Government departments will be properly vouched. So important was the matter of such an audit that it was not left to the ordinary laws, but it was incorporated in the Constitution. We believe that the Constitution is being amended by a sort of side sweep under this Bill. The Bill does not state specifically that it amends the Constitution, but, as a matter of fact, if this Bill goes through it does amend it, and the Act will be supposed to over-ride the Constitution. If the matter were taken up in the courts I suppose it could be disputed, and if the High Courts acted in a right manner they would probably turn down the claim of the Minister for Defence. I move the adjournment of the debate.
In Committee on Finance. - Military Service Pensions Bill, 1929—Fifth Stage.
Question put: "That the Bill do now pass."
Debate adjourned.