Vol. 15 No. 11
I wish to propose the motion standing in my name
"That, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Standing Orders 79 (1) and 85, the Committee Stage and Report Stage of the Finance (Customs Duties) Bill, 1932, be taken to-day."
The Minister for Agriculture has explained the urgent need of this Bill, and, as I understand, if the Bill is not made law before 30th April it will be necessary for the Exchequer to revise all the duties already collected. That is the reason for the urgency.
I second the motion.
I am assuming that the House is not to meet to-morrow. If there was any likelihood of the House meeting to-morrow I would oppose the motion so that we would not be asked by the new Ministers to rush these Bills at one sitting.
I would like to make my position clear about this. I have already intimated to all the Ministers that we, in this House, do object to rushed legislation, and I do object personally to have to put down a motion like this. If the House decides to meet to-morrow it can do so. The Bill is one of our inheritances. The financial effect of it is also one of our inheritances. We are not concerned whether the Seanad completes the Bill to-day. It can do so at any time before the 30th April and keep the Executive right.
I think it would be a foolish policy for the House to meet to-morrow on a Bill of this kind. I do not agree with the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs that this is one of their inheritances. The Executive Council need not have gone on with it, but could have allowed the Order to come to an end and brought in a new Bill to carry out any new provisions. At the same time I think we ought to take this as a compliment, as regards the confidence that the Minister has in the House, that, although we might have delayed the Bill, we are quite willing to let it pass.
