I move that the Bill be received for final consideration.
Road Transport Bill, 1931—Money Resolution. - Road Transport Bill, 1931—Fourth and Fifth Stages.
I suggest that it is unfair that the Report Stage should be taken to-day. This is a very important measure and has a direct bearing on the railway companies and their employees, upon the bus companies and their employees, and upon the owners of hackney carriages, and also upon the ratepayers generally. In view of the fact that we were promised this Bill for years past and now are endeavouring to rush it through in undue haste, I contend, is not treating the subject with the consideration it deserves. I suggest to the Minister the reason he is anxious to take the Bill, in all its stages, is because the Dáil is going to adjourn. I submit that the Dáil should not adjourn until they give very serious and due consideration to the Road Transport Bill, in addition to many other important problems that are awaiting consideration. I suggest to the Minister that in view of the fact that he has allowed bus traffic to develop to such an alarming extent, creating cut-throat competition for a number of years past, he is treating Deputies and the House generally very unfairly in trying to rush this Bill in this particular manner.
I cannot see what more serious consideration could be given to this Bill than has been given to it. It has passed through Committee; there have been a certain number of official amendments, but the majority of them were drafting amendments. There were two others, one of which I accepted because I said it was merely an indication that there should not be much use made of a particular sub-section, and the other that it might be made effective in a certain small particular. It was not a mandatory clause, it was only permissive. I do not know what other consideration Deputies are likely to give to this subject. There are not any further amendments really that can be moved. The Bill is essentially or almost essentially a second stage measure. Once the principle is accepted the details are not of such a great matter. The details have been examined here.
Question put and agreed to.
Question—"That the Bill do now pass"—put and agreed to.
Bill ordered to be sent to the Seanad.