I move: "That the Bill be read a Second Time." This Bill is really self-explanatory. All Deputies will, I think, agree that additional control and supervision of dance halls is required. Public dancing is organised for profit in places which are quite unsuitable for the purpose. The object of this Bill is to provide that all halls used for public dancing should be inspected by the Gárda Síochána and licensed by the District Court. It also provides for a right of appeal to the Circuit Court, either by the applicant for a licence or by any interested party who appeared in the District Court.
Section 2 sets out the matters which the justice of the District Court should have in mind when considering applications for dance hall licence. I believe that when the Act is in force, much less reason will exist for the well-substantiated complaints which have been made in the past regarding dance halls, particularly in country districts. The Bill is a necessary one, intended to deal with a recognised abuse.