I cannot see, for the life of me, how the putting of this Bill into operation, or the holding up of the Bill, or the holding up of any matter dealing with this particular Bill, is going to affect the credit of the city. I have known, as I know that Deputy Cosgrave has known, the Dublin Corporation for a long time, and, as long as I can recollect, I think I can say with truth that the commercial interests of Dublin were always represented there in some way or another. People connected in a very intimate way with the big commercial interests of the city were always to be found amongst the members of the Dublin Corporation—not in great numbers, perhaps, but you always had a fairly substantial representation there in the membership of the municipal council. It does not seem reasonable to me to suggest, therefore, that the addition or the elimination of five members, one way or the other, is going to affect the financial credit of the municipality. I do not think that it would take half of one per cent. off the loan price if we agreed to allow this Bill to remain suspended. I do not believe that it would have any effect, good, bad or indifferent.
What will affect the credit of the city is that the money that is to be raised in this loan, which Deputies have mentioned, and moneys to be raised in future loans, will be spent wisely and well. I am satisfied that the credit of the municipality stands high and deservedly high: that the business of the Dublin Corporation is well run and has been well run. I have no fault to find with the way it has been run, as a Minister at present, or as a citizen, or as a member of the Council in the days when I was a member. We all criticise municipalities, and perhaps there is room for criticism of municipalities to-day, just as there is room for criticism of other bodies of greater or less importance; but on the whole I am satisfied that the municipality of Dublin is well run, that its financial business particularly is well run and managed, and I believe that the credit of the municipality stands high, and that its loans are the best possible form of security and should be well invested in by the citizens.
Again, I cannot see what effect, adverse or the contrary, the action of the House here on this Bill is likely to have in so far as the financial credit of the city is concerned. I believe that when it was introduced and passed here it was a reactionary kind of measure, and one that is not in keeping with the spirit of the times. I believe that the individuals who have their money invested in the commercial houses and commercial properties of the city are all entitled to their votes and to their representation in their various spheres, and the commerce of Dublin gets its due representation when the former system ceases. I do not believe that it is going to be adversely affected by the elimination of the special franchise which now operates.