This Bill, as the House is aware, is an annual Bill and it requires to be enacted before the end of the present calendar year. It proposes to continue for another year the same statutes which appear in Parts I and II of the Schedule to the Expiring Laws Act, 1937. I would say in regard to these measures that permanent legislation is in draft to deal with the poor law matters in the State outside Dublin City and County and when enacted will make unnecessary the provisions for the annual renewal of the Local Government (Temporary Provisions) Act of 1923. The Poor Relief (Dublin) Act, of 1929, must be continued for the present. A permanent measure to amend the Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Act, of 1925, is also in draft form. I may say also to the House that consideration has been given to the desirability of enacting legislation to give permanence to the Acts hitherto continued by means of an annual Expiring Laws Act. It is not, however, considered necessary to introduce legislation to make permanent any of the Acts in the Schedule to the Bill, with the exception of the Acts to which I have referred. As regards these latter measures, the necessary legislation will not be ready for some time so it is accordingly necessary to continue them for a further period by means of the machinery of the Expiring Laws Act.
Expiring Laws Bill, 1938—Second Stage.
Question proposed: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."
Question put and agreed to.
Committee Stage fixed for Wednesday, 9th November, 1938.