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DAIL QUESTIONS
Listening Devices
Mr. Seán Moore (F.F., Dublin South-East) asked the
Minister for Justice if he was aware that commercial
investigation agencies were placing sophisticated listen-
ing devices in premises and vehicles to obtain infor-
mation on the activities of citizens and if he proposed
to introduce any changes in legislation to deal with the
matter.
The Minister said that he was aware of a report on
these lines. He had no reason to think, however, that
there was a significant social problem in this country
at present arising out of this kind of activity. It might
become a problem as it had already done in other
countries. But it was a complex matter which was at
present being assessed by an international committee
under the auspices of the Council of Europe. This
country was keeping in touch with developments.
Mr. Barry Desmond (Labour, Dun Laoghaire)
asked if, in view of the disquieting aspects of
this report, would he consider having direct investi-
gations made into the source of it, and the particular
practices referred to.
The Minister said that he was waiting to see what
the recommendations of the Council of Europe com-
mittee were. But if he thought these sort of activities
were widespread, he would certainly investigate it
further. At the moment the law would not allow him to
stop these activities. He would like to make it clear he
regarded these sort of practices as reprehensible.
When asked if he would convey his views to the parti-
cular agency, the Minister said that he was sure the
individual concerned would hear of his remarks.
Adoption
The Minister for Justice, Mr. O'Malley, was asked by
Mr. Cooney (F.G.) if he was aware that there had been
criticism of the Adoption Acts and if he had any pro-
posals for their amendment.
The Minister said that if the deputy wished to sup-
port the criticism of the Adoption Acts and conse-
quently to recommend that the legal rights of mothers
of illegitimate children should be reduced, he was pre-
pared to consider what the deputy had to say. But he
wanted to make it clear that so far he had seen no
argument to convince him that the existing law ought
to be changed and the rights of mothers of illegitimate
children reduced.
Mr. Cooney said that it was quite unreal that the
Minister should read into his question any proposal to
reduce the rights of anyone. What he was concerned
with was that a couple of different religions were pre-
vented from adopting children.
Mr. O'Malley said that was not the position—the
number of applications for adoption far exceeded the
number of childran available for adoption. There was
no question of children failing to be adopted for
reasons given by the deputy.
The Minister said that it was a very delicate matter
and the present position had been arrived at after very
considerable consideration had been given to the views
of all the Churches.
Mr. Cooney said that those views had changed, parti-
cularly in regard to this matter.
The Minister said his primary concern was the well-
being of the children and because the number of adop-
tive parents far exceeded the number of children avail-
able there was no hardship to any children.
Dr. FitzGerald (F.G.) asked the Minister if he was
defending the principle in the Adoption Acts.
Mr. O'Malley said he was primarily concerned about
the welfare of the children, and as long as no child
failed to be adopted because of the provisions, he felt
that the Acts were being fulfilled.
The Irish Times
(6th May 1971)
Dail Budget Debate: Death Duties
In the course of his budget speech the Minister
for Finance made the following announcements.
Death Duties
The present scale of rates of estate duty has remained
unchanged since 1961. This year I am proposing to
increase the rates for estates over £55,000 in value.
Above that point, the rate of 30 per cent will be raised
to 33 per cent and the rates applicable to estates of
greater value will be scaled upwards to a maximum of
55 per cent, instead of 40 per cent, on estates of over
£200,000. The rate of interest on duty in arrear, which
has remained unchanged at 4 per cent since 1919,will
be brought up to a more realistic 9 per cent.
I feel that it is unfair that estate duty on personal
property should bear interest from the date of death of
the deceased and accordingly I propose that duty on
such property should be free of interest for four months
after the death. Interest on duty on real estate does not,
of course, commence to accrue until after twelve months
from the date of death. I have decided that further
relief from estate duty should be granted in cases where
an estate passes to a widow. At present, where duty is
payable by a widow, it is abated by a sum of £1,000
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