Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 25 Jun 1935

Vol. 57 No. 6

Committee on Finance. - Vote 59—Railway Tribunal.

Minister for Industry and Commerce (Mr. Lemass)

I move:—

Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £1,859 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1936, chun Tuarastail agus Costaisí eile an Bhínse Bhóthair Iarainn (Uimh. 29 de 1924 agus Uimh. 9 de 1933).

That a sum not exceeding £1,859 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1936, for the Salaries and other Expenses of the Railway Tribunal (No. 29 of 1924 and No. 9 of 1933).

This is a purely formal Vote. There is no change except a slight decrease in the salaries, wages and allowances estimated. I do not know that it is necessary to say anything about it. It is a statutory obligation for which the Department makes provision.

Mr. Cosgrave

Is the Railway Tribunal doing any work?

Mr. Lemass

It is carrying out all the functions which devolve upon it by statute and doing them well.

Mr. Cosgrave

How many times did the court sit in the year?

Mr. Lemass

The report of the Railway Tribunal is published and left in the Library for the information of Deputies.

Mr. Cosgrave

Yes, like that of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Agriculture, the Minister's statistics and the rest of them, at least 18 months after the event.

Mr. Lemass

When I was in opposition I used to read them.

Mr. Cosgrave

The Minister, with great respect to the Chair, has scamped all his work as Minister here from the beginning of this sitting. He has given us no information. He has grabbed every penny he can get. He tells us about soft-headed lawyers and so on, and when we ask a simple question as to how often this court sat he does not know.

Mr. Lemass

As often as is necessary.

Vote put and agreed to.