§ 39. Mr. BYRNEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when the destroyed property owners in Dublin will be in a position to build; and if he will say when they will hear the amount awarded in each case for destroyed buildings?
§ Mr. DUKEThe information mentioned in the question will be communicated to the persons concerned individually when decisions have been arrived at in their respective cases.
§ Mr. BYRNEWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman say when, after seven months, a decision will be arrived at?
§ Mr. DUKEI do not exactly know that in the exercise of my prevision I am equal to answering that question. It will not be delay by any operation of mine; on the contrary, if I can I will accelerate it.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYIs it the Treasury that is in default. Have they during the time given one shilling towards rebuilding?
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITE(by Private Notice) asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the date upon which the Dublin Reconstruction Emergency Bill will be taken, and whether, having regard to the fact that the measure, as agreed upon by both parties in Dublin, is not acceptable to the Government, ample time will be given between the appearance of the proposed Government Amendments on the Order Paper and the Committee stage of the Bill, so that the interested parties in Dublin may have time to meet and consider their effect?
§ Mr. DUKEI did not receive the hon. Member's notice, but the position is this: For something like three months or fourteen weeks I have been ready, when the parties came to an agreement, to deal with it. They came to an agreement a few days ago, and the Irish Office has been busy ever since trying to put the agreement in a form in which probably the Bill would get through the two Houses. The Amendments are complete and will be put upon the Paper to-morrow. If the parties think they may have questions to raise which have not been raised and can persuade the other parties who have settled their differences to run the risk of this Bill not being dealt with before it is possible to deal with them in this House it may be adjourned for another week, but in view of the great pressure that hat been put upon me to bring it on at the earliest time, the Amendments will be handed in to-night and will be on the Paper to-morrow morning, and I strongly recommend those who are interested in the Bill to acquiesce in the order which is proposed, namely, that the Bill shall be taken on Monday if possible.