Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Friday, 13 Mar 1953

Vol. 137 No. 3

Committee on Finance. - Vote 29—Office of the Minister for Justice.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Boland)

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 on the 31st day of March, 1953, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Minister for Justice, including certain other Services administered by that office.

This Supplementary Estimate, which is a token one, is required to meet the necessary expenses of staff salaries and wages following on the setting up of An Bord Uchtála under the Adoption Act, 1952. The expenses are detailed under Part II, sub-head A (6), of the Estimate. The board held its first meeting on the 14th January last and there have been three subsequent meetings. Many inquiries have been received from interested parties, and the applications for adoption number 1,100 approximately to date.

Brendán Mac Fheórais

There is only one thing I would like to raise, if I may. It struck me particularly that every member of the Adoption Board is either a native of Dublin or has a Dublin address. I do not know whether there is any particular reason for that. I do not say it would be absolutely necessary that the members be taken from different parts of the country, but there has been comment on the fact that all these members are from Dublin or have city addresses. It is thought that the board should have been a little more representative of the country.

Mr. Boland

The only place I knew where there was a really active branch of the association was Cork City, and when we pointed out that there might be frequent meetings—we were not sure how many meetings there would be—the two who were suggested for Cork City said they could not attend. Otherwise, I was quite prepared to put up anyone who would be found suitable, no matter what part of the country they came from; but, of course, they would require to have fairly regular attendance. There are only seven members on the board, and the only thing that was taken into consideration was whether they could meet or not, apart from the suitability.

Mr. McGrath

There was a lady from Cork City proposed, but I understand we were a bit late.

Mr. Boland

I invited the Cork branch to put up someone.

Mr. Moran

I am not so concerned as to whether Cork people or Dublin people are put on this board. I want to take this opportunity to deal with the problem of centralisation. This is a Vote for staff, in the main, and I want to say that, if possible, this or any other board should be located somewhere in the country instead of in Dublin. This means going ahead with further centralising here in Dublin which, in turn, gives rise to other problems here. Where any board or any branch of the service is being set up in this State in the future, I suggest that examination should first be made to see whether their workcould be performed effectively in some town down the country rather than here in Dublin. I do not know whether it is possible to do that in this case or not, but if it is possible, the Minister should show an example to other Departments by making a start with this board and locate it in Galway, Limerick or some town outside Dublin. We are far too much inclined to allow this continuous drift towards Dublin. I am just giving due notice to the Minister that, for the future at all events, where any board is being set up under the auspices of this House or under any of our Departments, which could be operated from a rural area, I am certainly going to oppose its location here in this very crowded city.

Mr. Hickey

In view of the fact that Cork City and County is one-twentieth part of Ireland, it is rather unfair that we have no representative on the board. I agree with Deputy Moran that there is too much of this desire of every Department of State—I am satisfied this was not in the mind of the Minister for Justice—to centralise everything in Dublin. We will reach the position soon where Dublin will be looked upon as Ireland rather than as part of Ireland.

Mr. Boland

Is it not the best part of Ireland?

Mr. Desmond

I see Deputy Moran's point, but in this particular instance this measure is of such importance that there is no alternative left to the Minister but to carry on from Dublin. This is something in which every day can count and it is of great importance to a certain section of the community that this measure be put into operation without any delay. In order to get speedy reports this is probably the only way.

I can see my colleague, Deputy Hickey's point of view, but the general complaint here seems to be that Cork people have adopted Dublin, so in this instance we cannot expect that Dublin people would come down to adopt us.

Vote put and agreed to.