Vol. 202 No. 10
asked the Minister for Finance the amounts received annually from the Incorporated Law Society and the Bar Council in respect of the portions of the Four Courts, Dublin occupied by each of them, and the accommodation services and facilities granted by the State in return for such payments.
13.
asked the Minister for Finance the date upon which it was decided to draw up a licence to regulate the conditions of the Bar Council's occupancy of the Law Library and ante-room in the Four Courts, Dublin; and why such licence has not been drawn up.
I propose, with the permission of An Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos 12 and 13 together.
Prior to the destruction of the Four Courts in 1922 the Incorporated Law Society and the General Council of the Bar of Ireland occupied certain accommodation in those buildings. It was agreed with the two bodies concerned that in consideration of the withdrawal by them of claims for compensation, they would be provided in the reconstructed buildings with accommodation on a scale generally equivalent to that enjoyed by them prior to 1922. In pursuance of that agreement the Incorporated Law Society now occupy the premises now known as the Solicitors Buildings under a lease for 99 years from 1954 at a rent of 1/- a year. The State is responsible for external maintenance, excluding painting, internal and external window cleaning, maintenance and operation of the central heating system, maintenance of electric cables, etc., and repairs of a structural nature. The Society pays an annual contribution at present amounting to about £380, towards the cost of external maintenance, window cleaning, the central heating system and maintenance of electric cables, etc.
The portion of the Four Courts occupied by the General Council of the Bar of Ireland comprises basement space, the Law Library with ante-Room, robing rooms and other associated rooms in the North Block. The intention is that the Council's occupation should be covered by a licence which would be subject to a nominal rent and which would provide (a) that the State would undertake the maintenance and heating of the premises, the supply of electricity and the cleaning of windows, and (b) that the Council would be responsible for the maintenance and renewal of furniture, for cleaning other than window cleaning, and for the payment of an annual contribution towards the cost of the central heating, window cleaning, electric lighting, etc.
A draft licence embodying the foregoing conditions was submitted to the Council in 1957 but so far it has not been accepted by that body. It is hoped, however, that it will shortly be possible to secure completion of the transaction.
14.
asked the Minister for Finance whether the notices in the ante-room of the Law Library, Four Courts, Dublin bearing the words ná caith tobac anso—smoking strictly prohibited are the property of the State; if they were placed in their present position by agents of the State; and, if so, whether he has any objection to their removal and return to the State, having regard to the fact that the directive in the notices is more honoured in the breach than in the observance.
I understand that the notices prohibiting smoking in the ante-room have been in position for many years, but there is no record showing by whom they were erected. As indicated in reply to a question on 26th March, the ante-room is under the control of the Bar Council and a decision to dispense with the notices is a matter for that body. The Office of Public Works will remove the notices, if so requested by the Council.
Remove Deputy Richie Ryan.
You would like that.
That silly question cost about £5.
It will be a very considerable time before Deputy Ryan will qualify as a senile delinquent.
