NON-MINISTERIAL MOTIONS. - SUBSTITUTION FOR ARTICLE 2.
J. MACDONAGH (Tipperary N.) moved the following motion standing in his name:—
"That Article 2 of the Constitution be cancelled and the following substituted:—
(a) "All Executive Power shall be vested in Committees composed of Members of the Dáil.
(b) "The services of all Members of Dáil Eireann shall be utilised by their appointment to whatever Committee or Committees they are most suited.
(c) "Committees shall be formed to deal with Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Finance, National Defence, Local Government, Education, Labour, Industrial Development, Agriculture, and Trade and Commerce.
(d) "Members of Dáil Eireann shall state on what Committee or Committees they are prepared to act.
(e) "No Committee shall consist of less than five or more than nine Members. In the event of there being more than nine applications for any Committee, the President shall select whichever nine he considers most suitable.
(f) "A majority of a Committee shall form a quorum.
(g) "Each Committee shall select its own Chairman and Secretary.
(h) "The Chairman shall bring forward his Committee's recommendations to the Dáil in Session. In the event of the Dáil's approval the recommendation shall become law and shall then be handed back to the Committee concerned for execution.
(i) "Any Committee can be reconstructed by vote of the Dáil in Session.
(j) "No Member shall apply for membership of the Home Defence Committee unless he is a member of the Volunteer Executive or Head quarters Staff."
F. FAHY (Galway S.) seconded.
A. MACCABE (Sligo S.) moved an amendment:—
"That all Executive power shall be vested in Ministers assisted by Committees composed of Members of the Dáil."
L. DE ROISTE (Cork City) seconded.
Alderman T. KELLY (St. Stephen's Green) asked Mr. MacDonagh to with draw his motion.
J. MACDONAGH (Tipperary N.) said he would accept the amendment moved by Mr. MacCabe on the understanding that if a Member chooses to act on a Committee he will not be excluded from it.
The ACTING-PRESIDENT said that the Ministry were only too glad to receive the assistance of Members of Dáil in carrying out their proposals. Consultative Committees would, of course, be formed and each Member could serve on such Committees as he desired.
The motion was thereupon with drawn.