asked the Taoiseach if he will state when the operation of the Emergency Powers Act is to be ended.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Emergency Powers Act.
As the Deputy knows the Emergency Powers Acts will automatically expire in September next if they are not previously terminated by Order of the Government or are not extended for a further period by legislation. The Government has already divested itself of a considerable number of important powers which were taken under the Acts, and the position is being examined with a view to determining what further Emergency Powers Orders can be revoked without detriment to the public interest. It is obvious, however, that so long as the position regarding essential supplies remains as it is at present, the Government will continue to require the powers in regard to production, rationing, price control, etc., which have been exercisable since 1939. While I can assure the Deputy and the House that the Government has no desire to retain the Emergency Powers Acts in operation for a moment longer than the public interest requires, it is necessary to say that, so far as conditions can be foreseen at this moment, it is not likely that all the powers conferred by the Acts can be dispensed with in the near future.
Arising out of the Taoiseach's reply, while I am perfectly aware that the Taoiseach has divested himself of certain powers that he had no hopes of retaining in an independent Parliament, what I am asking him now is if it is proposed to retain the instrument whereby he can revest himself with these powers at a moment's notice? The moment after the Presidential election we may have the censorship and all these other measures back again. Is it not true that when the Taoiseach sought for these wide powers for a Party Government at the beginning of the war he undertook, most solemnly, that the moment the emergency was over he would reject this method of legislation and resume the normal method of seeking each individual power he required to deal with the situation from Dáil Eireann by a specific Act? If the scarcity of commodities is to be a ground, a new ground, on which he requires special powers, surely he could get them ad hoc from Parliament as he requires them and not through the machinery of the Emergency Powers Acts?
I have told the Deputy that we are examining the situation and getting rid as fast as we possibly can of any powers not necessary at the moment. When the position is completely examined, then the question of the powers that it will be necessary to retain in the public interest will appear very clearly. At that time, the Government will have to consider with the Dáil what powers and what general Acts will be necessary, whether it will be desirable to repeal any part of existing Acts or to continue them. That is a matter which it will take some time to consider. I have indicated the general position of the Government towards this question and I am not in a position to give any further information to-day.
Surely the Taoiseach does not suggest to the Dáil that he contemplates the possibility of incorporating into the permanent legislation of this country any part of the Emergency Powers Act which he got at the beginning of the war?
The Deputy knows perfectly well, as well as any other person, that the emergency is not over, as far as we are concerned, in a number of respects. Surely the Government is entitled to get some time to examine the situation and to see what are the powers which it will be desirable to retain? Surely it is desirable, if we come to the conclusion that other legislation is required, that we should not divest ourselves of our existing powers until that other legislation is enacted?
May I ask the Taoiseach——
Question No. 2.
Am I not going to be allowed to put the Taoiseach a supplementary question?
The Chair is the sole judge as to whether a supplementary question may be put. The Deputy's first supplementary question embodied several questions. The Chair is the judge of how many supplementary questions may be asked.
The Chair is certainly the judge but I suggest that the Taoiseach's answer contained a presumption which is false. If you forbid me from putting a supplementary question I can only bow to your ruling and resume my activities to-morrow.
The Deputy's intervention in respect of the Chair's ruling was not very orderly.
I bow to your ruling.