Seanad Éireann - Volume 10 - 06 June, 1928

PUBLIC BUSINESS. - CHILDREN BILL, 1928—FIRST STAGE.

Mr. BRADY Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY: I move for leave to introduce a Bill entitled “An Act to amend sub-section (1) of Section 58 of the Children Act, 1908.” I am supported by Senators Bennett, Brown, O'Farrell, Hooper, and MacLoughlin. I do not wish to go into the merits of the Bill at this stage of the proceedings, but will reserve my remarks until the Second Reading.

Mr. FARREN Mr. FARREN

Mr. FARREN: I second the motion.

Mrs. WYSE POWER Mrs. WYSE POWER

Mrs. WYSE POWER: I desire to draw the attention of the House to this proposition of piece-meal legislation. The Report of the Poor Law Commission is in the hands of the Executive Council, and this Bill deals with one of the recommendations in that Report. I think it would be highly undesirable that paragraphs should be taken out of that very voluminous Report and legislation sought to be enacted upon them. I think the Report as a whole should be considered by the Executive Council with a view to legislation. The present is not the time for the Senator to lay down his points with regard to admissions to industrial schools. I think that people who have thought out the question are entirely against the present system of admission, which means that a child has to be a criminal in order to get into one of these schools. I do not think that anybody who has studied this question and who has been dealing with State children for any time could think otherwise, but I do think that legislation of this kind at the present moment is not desirable.

CATHAOIRLEACH CATHAOIRLEACH

CATHAOIRLEACH: I find that I have been forgetting my Standing Orders——

Mrs. WYSE POWER Mrs. WYSE POWER

578

[578] Mrs. WYSE POWER: Yes, I should not speak on the First Reading. I know that, sir.

Mr. BRADY Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY: That being so, I suppose you will not hear me in reply?

CATHAOIRLEACH CATHAOIRLEACH

CATHAOIRLEACH: You will have the fullest opportunity on the Second Reading.

Ordered: That the Bill be printed and circulated.

Seanad Éireann 10 PUBLIC BUSINESS. CHILDREN BILL, 1928—FIRST STAGE.

General Debate

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