asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the fact that in recent years consideration by Dáil Éireann of the financial business has tended to take an increasing amount of time during June and July, to the exclusion of all other business and to the detriment of the agricultural pursuits of Deputies who are farmers, he will give serious consideration to the desirability of changing the financial year to correspond, say, with the calendar year, in order that the Dáil may adjourn earlier for the summer recess.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Financial Business in Dáil.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply given to a similar question on the 23rd January, 1947, by the Minister for Finance. As was indicated in that reply, the question of changing the financial year to correspond with the calendar year was examined some years ago. Departments, local authorities and commercial, insurance, accounting and banking interests were consulted as to whether a change would be desirable, but the weight of opinion, private as well as official, was, for substantial reasons, against a change and in favour of retaining the present financial year.