In the absence of the Chairman, I propose that Deputy Thrift take the Chair.
Procedures
Deputy DOYLE
MINISTER
I second.
Agreed.
Deputy Thrift took the Chair.
Deputy DOYLE
Before we proceed with the business, I understand that there are some Press representatives outside who are anxious to know if they will be admitted to the meeting. Are we to assume that the order made the last day continues: that the Press be not admitted?
The Committee decided to adhere to the order made at its first meeting.
I suppose our first business to-day will be to take up the schedule of applications.
MINISTER
We are in the awkward position that the list has only now been put into the hands of Deputies, and consequently they have not had an opportunity of considering it. I do not know whether it will be possible to go through the list to-day and clean it up. I think, at all events, we might take it up, and if objection is taken in any particular case, because of the short notice given of the Sub-Committee's recommendations, then we can see what we will do. The vouchers connected with the work of each individual are in the hands of the Secretary, and Deputies, if they want to, can see these files. If possible I would like to have the list cleaned up to-day, but we cannot rush it to the disadvantage of members who have not had the list in their hands until to-day. On page 4, Deputies will see a classification of the 77 cases enumerated. There were nine inquiries from registered dentists re operation of the Act. As they are registered dentists, we have nothing to do with them. There were five applications from residents outside Saorstát Eireann. The Sub-Committee did not go into these cases in any great detail. They merely endeavoured to find out the particular type of case they were. The line the Sub-Committee took was that unless people were resident here, or were likely to be resident here, then they did not look on them with any great favour. There are six recommended for the register and twelve recommended for the schedule. There are seven postponed for further consideration by the Committee. These are the seven cases that we had at our first meeting, when the Committee postponed them to get further evidence. The further evidence has revealed nothing fresh in their cases, and the Sub-Committee feels that there is nothing to warrant their going on. Then, as regards six, no decision was arrived at owing to absence of evidence. The Committee were not able to come to any decision in these cases, because all they could get from the applicants were their original letters of application. On referring back for further evidence, they did not hear from five of them, and as regards the sixth the individual said that Deputy Dr. Keogh knew all about it.
A few people called on me, and I told them to put all the additional information they had before the Committee.
MINISTER
That did not happen with any of these six. The position is that six are recommended for the register and twelve for the schedule. The others, for one reason or another, are not recommended, and 32 have been definitely rejected.
Has the Sub-Committee made any distinction with regard to its recommendations to the schedule?
MINISTER
I promised the Committee to bring in an amendment. This will deal with people who would come on the register as from the date of the passing of the Act and of others who would come on the schedule subject to some examination, to be considered afterwards.
The schedule you have in existence requires the passing of an examination, and you suggest now, I understand, another schedule which would put people on who would not require an examination.
MINISTER
Yes; these would count as registered dentists as from the date of the passing of the Act.
Individual cases were then taken up and considered by the Committee.