I move:
That a supplementary sum, not exceeding £10, be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1943, for the Army and the Army Reserve (including certain Grants-in-Aid) under the Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) Acts, and for certain administrative Expenses in connection therewith; for the Expenses of the Office of the Minister for the co-ordination of Defensive Measures; for Expenses in connection with the trial and detention of certain persons (No. 28 of 1939, No. 1 of 1940, No. 16 of 1940, etc.); for certain Expenses under the Offences against the State Acts, 1939 and 1940 (No. 13 of 1939, and No. 2 of 1940) and the Air-Raid Precautions Act, 1939 (No. 21 of 1939); for Reserve Medical Supplies for Civilian Hospitals; for certain Expenses of the Local Defence Force (including Grants-in-Aid) (No. 28 of 1939); for certain Expenses in connection with the special Commemoration of the 1916 Rising; for certain Expenses in connection with the National Blood Transfusion Council, and for a Grant to the Irish Red Cross Society.
The object of the present Supplementary Estimate for the token sum of £10 is to seek the Dáil's approval (a) for the establishment of the National Blood Transfusion Council, and to regularise certain expenditure which has been incurred in connection with the activities of the council, and (b) for a grant to the Irish Red Cross Society to defray the cost of transferring from the United States of America to Eire certain medical stores and equipment supplied by the American Red Cross Society.
It is a matter of common knowledge that the use of blood and blood derivatives forms to-day an integral part and essential function in the medical treatment of certain diseases, but it is not equally well known that the methods adopted in their application are not uniform. When this fact was brought to the notice of the Government, they decided to set up a National Blood Transfusion Council for the following purposes: (1) To co-ordinate all information regarding blood transfusion, its methods, and its application. (2) To advise the Government, Departments of State, and all organising bodies on all matters relating to blood transfusion. (3) To direct the work of all organising bodies so as to ensure that progress is made on proper and uniform lines.
The council is an independent body and not directly associated with any Government Department. Its functions are purely advisory and it is composed of a chairman nominated by the Government with representatives from the Department of Defence, from the Department of Local Government and Public Health, from the National and Dublin Blood Transfusion Services, from each of the universities and the College of Science, from the Hospitals Commission and from the Medical Association of Eire. One additional member, an expert in all matters relating to blood transfusion, has at the unanimous request of the council been appointed to act on the committee.
The council has not as yet any statutory existence, but it may be necessary at a later stage to provide by statute for it. Meanwhile, accommodation for the council is provided by the Department of Defence, and any secretarial work necessary to its activities is also performed by the Department.
In connection with the general work of blood transfusion, and not necessarily connected with the activities of the Blood Transfusion Council, it may be of interest to note that the Army Medical Service is actively engaged on this work, and that the material prepared is not only for the Army but for general distribution in case of an emergency. Batches of about 25 soldier donors attend several mornings each week at St. Bricin's Hospital and from them is taken the serum, which when filtered is stored in a refrigerating plant.
The present Estimate is intended to cover all expenses, estimated at approximately £200, incurred in connection both with the National Blood Transfusion Council and with the soldier donors. In the case of the council it mainly covers the travelling expenses of a certain member not resident in Dublin, and in that of the soldier donors any travelling or other expenses incurred in connection with their attendance for transfusion at St. Bricin's Hospital.
The second object of this Supplementary Estimate is to defray 75 per cent. of the cost of bringing from the United States of America to this country certain medical supplies and equipment donated by the American Red Cross Society. The value of the stores agreed to be transferred is about 750,000 dollars. They will be in the custody and control of the Irish Red Cross Society and are intended for use in case this country is involved in war, or an emergency arises here as a result of the present war. Permission may, however, be given from time to time by the American society to use any of the goods sent or to turn over any stores liable to deterioration. In view of the fact that the goods remain the property of the American society and that their control alone is vested in the Irish society, the Government has agreed to defray 75 per cent. of the cost of transference to this country, the remaining 25 per cent. being borne by the Irish society. It is estimated that the cost in freight will be about £10,000, and it has been agreed that the maximum State contribution will be £7,500, of which about £1,000 will fall for payment during the present financial year.
The sum of £200 required during the present financial year in connection with blood transfusion, and that of £1,000 to defray the transatlantic freight on supplies donated by the American Red Cross Society will this year be met out of savings on the Army Vote, so that only the token sum of £10 is required to regularise the expenditure.