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Dáil Éireann debate -
Friday, 6 Aug 1920

Vol. F No. 16

NON-MINISTERIAL MOTIONS. - LOCUM TENENS FOR TEACHTAI.

T. MACSUIBHNE (Cork Mid.) moved:—
"That the Executive of each Constituency be instructed where their member of the Dáil is absent from his duties, that a locum tenens be appointed in the Constituency to carry out his duties in his absence."
COUNTESS MARKIEVICZ (St. Patrick's, Dublin) seconded the motion.
C. O HUIGIN (Leix) moved, and R. O MAOLCHATHA (Clontarf) seconded, as an addendum:—
"That members of the Ministry be allowed to nominate their own substitutes."
SEAN MAC AN TSAOI (Monaghan South) moved, and P. GALLIGAN (Cavan West) seconded, as an amendment:—
"That consideration of the question be adjourned to the next meeting."
A. MACCABE (Sligo South) supported the amendment. The motion would, if adopted, have the effect of placing restrictions on the members. The Chairman of the Local Sinn Fein Executive was the Chief Executive Officer for the Constituency in the absence of the member.
LIAM DE ROISTE (Cork City) said that the people who elected the member alone could appoint his substitute.
The SECRETARY FOR FINANCE said that what was required was to get a representative working in each constituency who would speed up matters generally even where there was no Deputy for the constituency. The proposed locum tenens could not be a member of the Dáil and could not attend at sittings. His work would be to act in the Deputy's place in the Constituency when the Deputy could not be present. He suggested that the matter be fully gone into before next meeting and a definite scheme submitted.
The amendment was supported by J. N. DOLAN (Leitrim), who said it was a matter for the Deputy and his Constituents.
J.J. WALSH (Cork City) thought the proposal monstrous.
SEAN MACENTEE (Monaghan South) agreed with the suggestion of the Secretary for Finance, and after further discussion the motion and the amendment were withdrawn and this suggestion agreed to.
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