The next items on the agenda are the election of President and the formation of a new Ministry. Now we were anxious to have those elections in public rather than in private and I think on the whole it was better it should be so. The nominees could be consulted in advance. The advantage lies now in publicity and I think we should leave to the public session the work of election. I therefore take this opportunity of making a statement to the Dáil which I could not make in public. I believe that it is likely that I would again be nominated for Presidency at the public session on Friday. I have explained to you definitely my position which is always this that I have one allegiance only to the people of Ireland and that is to do the best we can for the people of Ireland as we conceive it. If you propose me I want you all to understand that you propose me understanding that that will be my attitude; that any questions that we have to discuss that I will discuss them from the point of view absolutely of what I consider the people of Ireland want and what I consider is best from their point of view.
I would take office therefore only on that understanding to bring our proposal before you constitutionally and as one who was ready to stand on a principle of the Cabinet on the policy brought forward and to fall on it also.
I would not like therefore that anyone should propose me for election as President who would think I had my mind definitely made up on any situation that may arise. I keep myself free to consider each question as it arises. I never bind myself in any other way. I do not think it possible for anyone to do so if in advance he binds himself to one point of view. I therefore want you to know that, as I think this is the proper place to say it to you. In office up to the present I have done my best on that understanding and it is on that understanding I will continue.
The only thing that would be possible then, if you would wish in any way to discuss the matter I have raised I am willing that it should be discussed. But if you have no desire to go any further in the matter, and the question of election in private, I think it would be better to have it in public. Of course if the President is elected in public it is right he should nominate the Ministers in public and that they should be ratified in public.
The only other business is the Ministerial motions. So the only thing, if you don't wish to pursue the matter I have raised in connection with motion for election of President, I would propose the adjournment.