This Bill will, I think, give the Seanad even less trouble than that which the House has so kindly put through all its stages just now. The measure in former years was of a more formidable character than the present Bill. The number of Bills in the Schedules are relatively small on this occasion. It is an annual Bill which requires to be enacted before the end of the calender year. It proposes to continue for a further year the statutes set out in Parts I and II of the Schedule. As the Schedule differs but very slightly from the 1941 Schedules, and as it is necessary to effect every possible economy in the use of paper, the customary explanatory memorandum has not been circulated. A limited number of copies of this memorandum are, however, available for any Senators who are particularly anxious to study it. Of eight Acts appearing in the Schedule, provision has already been made for the repeal of the Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Act, 1925, which will go when the Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Act, 1939, comes into operation. It may not be feasible, however, owing to the emergency, to give effect to the 1939 Act before the 1st January next and it is necessary accordingly to continue the Act for a further period.
A Rent Restrictions Bill is at present being prepared and the Minister for Justice hopes to introduce it shortly. As it will not be enacted before the end of this year, it is necessary to continue for a further period the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1923. The position regarding the remaining Acts has been reviewed to consider whether legislation might be introduced to give permanence to any of them in their present form or in an amended form. Any such legislation is not, however, thought to be feasible at present. It will be appreciated that the Schedule of enactments to be continued has shrunk considerably over a number of years and we are left with a mere handful of Acts which as opportunity presents itself will be further diminished.