I should like, first of all, to get some explanation of the large amount of redundant language which appears in this section. Sub-section (2) states that "whenever the Minister for Finance, after consultation with the Minister for Industry and Commerce, is satisfied that wheat flour or wheat meal milled wholly or mainly from wheat, is not obtainable from manufacturers in Saorstát Eireann in sufficient quantities or in suitable condition or at all, or whenever the Minister for Finance after such consultation as aforesaid considers it desirable"... Now why should all this wordy matter be employed "if the Minister thinks it desirable"? Why not leave it at that without quoting preliminary conditions which are covered entirely by the general desirability of the thing? The Minister for Finance can at any time he likes give a licence, so why describe the various limiting conditions in which he can give a licence?
Public Business. - Finance (Customs Duties) (No. 3) Bill, 1932—Committee.
Was not this question raised when the Control of Manufactures Bill was before us? It was argued that prescribed conditions should be given as to why each licence should be granted. We had a difference of opinion, if my memory serves me right, between the two Houses.
And we won.
Senator Sir John Keane surely does not want the Seanad to go back now upon what it demanded on that Bill?
I assume the draftsman's idea was to cover all possible things mentioned in the section, and all other things not foreseen, and to cover all the decisions of the Minister for Finance in consultation with the Minister for Industry and Commerce. It is the draftsman's operation and it is a matter upon which I am not, technically, in a position to speak. I know it is the purpose, when all these various qualifications are necessary, to cover them so far as possible and then to leave what I might call the blanketing power to the Minister for Finance to cover anything desirable.
It would hardly seem necessary, having taken full powers, then to take all these detailed powers, but it is one of those peculiar things done for technical reasons. I should like the Minister to say what is the attitude of the Government generally to those licensing proceedings. I want to move a recommendation in the form of a new sub-section to Section 1.
Leas-Chathaoirleach
I was about to put sub-section (2).
If necessary I can move it after sub-section (2).
Leas-Chathaoirleach
Or you could move it on the Report Stage.
I shall move as a recommendation after Section 2 to move to insert a new Section 3 which will read as follows:—
After Section 1 to insert a new section as follows:—
When under the foregoing section general licences are granted under conditions the particulars of such conditions shall be published at the earliest opportunity in the Iris Oifigiúil.
Where special licences are granted to individuals under the foregoing section the names of the individual licencees shall be published in the Iris Oifigiúil in the next issue appearing after the granting of any such licences.
The writing is not very clear, and with the permission of the House I should like to get it typed out.
As we are putting this Bill through all its stages without notice I suggest that we should adjourn the Committee Stage for a short period in order to give Senator Keane an opportunity of having his amendment typed out. In the meantime we could take up the Control of Manufactures Bill.