§ The Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland (in this Act referred to as "the Department") may, by order, declare any plant, the dissemination of which is in their opinion injurious to agriculture, to be a noxious weed, either generally throughout Ireland or in any specified area.
The VICE-PRESIDENT Of the DEPARTMENT of AGRICULTURE (Ireland) (Mr. T. W. Russell)moved to leave out from the word "may" ["may, by order, declare any plant"] to the end of the Clause, and to insert instead thereof the words, "with the consent of the council of any county make an order declaring that throughout the county all plants of any species to which this section applies are noxious weeds for the purposes of this Part of this Act.
(2) The species of plants to which this section applies are rag weed, coltsfoot, thistle, and dock, and the order may include all or any of those species.
(3) The consent of the county council shall be signified by a resolution passed at a meeting of the council, and a copy of the resolution under the seal of the council shall be accepted as sufficient evidence of such consent.
(4) The Department may revoke or, with the consent of the county council, alter any order made under this section."
§ Mr. H. W. FORSTERWill the county council be able to over-ride the Department?
§ Mr. RUSSELLYes.
§ Mr. FORSTERWhat will be the result if they revoke the resolution?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe Department will be powerless to act. I have provided for the county council revoking the order, and I have given the county council this power in deference to wishes expressed on both sides of the House.
§ Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Clause," put' and negatived.
§ Question, "That those words be there inserted," put and agreed to.
§ Question, "That the Clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill," put and agreed to.