The Gazette 1971

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. 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

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. 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

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

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

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