I beg to move the suspension of the Standing Orders in order to take the remaining Stages of this Bill.
SEANAD IN COMMITTEE. - SEANAD RESUMES.
I beg to second.
Question put and agreed to.
Question: "That this Bill be now considered on Report"— put and agreed to.
Question proposed: "That the Bill be received for final consideration and do now pass."
I am not opposed to the Bill, but in view of the suspension of some public boards I think the Minister ought to let us know exactly what the position is regarding the postponement of these elections. There is a good deal of dissatisfaction with the manner in which some public bodies are being conducted. There is also a good deal of propaganda being carried on with a view to the abolition of public boards. It appears to me to be unfair to be postponing these elections while people are continually finding fault with the manner in which public bodies are conducting their business. If the public boards are not satisfactory the best way to give the people an opportunity of registering their opinion in the matter would be to hold elections and allow the people to elect new boards.
I think it is hardly fair to be abolishing public boards after their period of office had expired, postponing the elections, and at the same time carrying on a virile propaganda against them. I have no doubt that the Government have some very good reasons why the elections should be postponed, but I think it is hardly fair, while the public boards are carrying on, to have the elections postponed on more than one occasion, and to be finding fault with the manner in which they are doing their business without giving the people an opportunity of putting others in their places.
The first reason for postponing the elections is that if we do not do so we would have to have them on the 1st of January, as the law now stands. Another reason is that it would be well, if possible, to get all the rates collected before we ask the new Councils to take over the responsibilities of Local Government. The third reason is that it would be well to have the new registers which we are compiling before them. As well as that, I would like to have time to consider the whole question of Local Government, as it may perhaps be necessary to change the administration in many ways. It might also be necessary to have changes in the personnel or the system. At all events, it is impossible to have the elections on January 1st. I think everyone will agree with that.
Question put and agreed to.