I beg to move amendment No. 31 :—

At the end of the section to insert a new sub-section as follows :—

(2) Regulations for the conveyance of bacon shall not apply to bacon packed in hermetically sealed containers.

This amendment is on the same lines as the last one.

Could we postpone this amendment until Deputy Dillon is here ?

Is the Minister prepared to accept it ?

No, I do not intend to accept it.

If it is not possible to leave the amendment over, I am prepared to move it on Deputy Dillon's behalf.

If it were moved the Minister would be in a position to tell us why he is not prepared to accept it.

It would be impracticable to accept it. Of course I would not have any great objection to it, because obviously it is an amendment that does not put the Board or the Minister in any great difficulty. Naturally the Minister need not use the power of restricting if he does not see fit, but I do not want to put any power in a section that could not possibly be used. You may prohibit, at a certain stage, this system that they have in the northern part of the Free State, of bringing in carcases and having them cured, but you cannot restrict that ; that is my opinion. You may prohibit at a certain time, but you cannot restrict, so I think the amendment is impracticable.

Perhaps the Minister will see Deputy Dillon in regard to the amendment ?

Deputy Dillon could move it on the Report Stage if he so desires. I do not mind.

I will mark the amendment " not moved," so that it can be brought forward again, if necessary.

At a subsequent stage in the proceedings Deputy Dillon said: I understand that an amendment of mine, amendment No. 32, to Section 51 was, by the courtesy of the Committee, left over. When is it your intention to take that amendment ?

I think the decision was that if you thought well of it you could put it down for the Report Stage. The amendment was marked " not moved."

Perhaps the Minister would be good enough to say if he would accept it—it is an amendment to widen the Minister's discretion.

I do not think it would be in order to go into it now. I will speak to the Deputy afterwards about the amendment.