I move that the Bill be now read a Second Time. The object of this Bill is to validate the appointment of certain recruits, who have been admitted to the Gárda Síochána since the 8th August, 1933—that is from the date of the passing of the Gárda Síochána (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1923. That Act, as well as the subsequent Acts dealing with the recruitment of Guards, provided that appointment to the Gárda Síochána, with the exception of officers, should be made by the Commissioner. When this Act was passed in 1923 it provided for regulations as to recruitment. These regulations were not made until June, 1924. In the meantime, about 800 recruits had been admitted to the force. I have been advised that, where recruitment was carried on between the period of the passing of the Temporary Provisions Act of 1923 and the making of regulations in 1924, it is necessary to have legislation to validate the appointment of those recruits. That is done under sub-section (1) of Section 2 of the Bill. Since the making of those regulations, cases have occurred of admissions to the Gárda Síochána where those recruited did not comply with the conditions set out in the regulations made in 1924. It was held that those regulations were not mandatory but rather directory. However, we have now been advised that they are mandatory, and that it is necessary to pass this Bill for the purpose of validating that recruitment.
Public Business. - Gardá Síochána Bill, 1937—Second Stage.
Question put and agreed to.
Committee Stage ordered for Wednesday, 24th February.