Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Dec 1959

Vol. 178 No. 7

Apprenticeship Bill, 1958—From the Seanad.

The Dáil went into Committee to consider amendments from the Seanad.

Minister for Industry and Commerce (Mr. J. Lynch)

I move that the Committee agree with the Seanad in amendment 1:

Before subsection (2), a new subsection inserted as follows:—

"( ) No one shall be required by virtue of paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section to answer any question or to give any evidence tending to criminate himself."

The first amendment deals with the obligations on a person who has apprentices on his premises to answer questions put to him by an authorised officer. The amendment proposes that such person need not answer questions that might incriminate him.

The second amendment deals with the prosecution of offences under the Act.

Mr. Sweetman

On a point of order, surely the Minister should give us each explanation separately and then each amendment should be put?

Mr. J. Lynch

I am sorry.

Question put and agreed to.

Mr. J. Lynch

I move that the Committee agree with the Seanad in amendment 2:

Before section 63, a new section inserted as follows:—

"An offence under this Act may be prosecuted by An Chomhairle."

The second amendment is to implement another suggestion put forward in the matter of prosecutions which, in the Bill, as it went to the Seanad, could be brought by An Chomhairle or an authorised officer. It was suggested that the wording might envisage an authorised officer actually appearing in court on behalf of An Chomhairle. That is not the intention and the section has been altered to read "An offence under this Act may be prosecuted by An Chomhairle." This clearly envisages that An Chomhairle be represented by a solicitor.

Question put and agreed to.

Mr. J. Lynch

I move that the Committee agree with the Seanad in amendment 3:

Section deleted.

This is a consequential amendment.

Question put and agreed to.

Amendments reported and agreed to.