I now move No. 4. "Now this Dáil, being of opinion, that the doing by or under the authority of the Army Council of the several matters aforesaid, is a matter of military necessity, doth hereby ratify and approve of the sanction given by the Government, and of the doing by, or under the authority of the Army Council of all or any of the acts, and matters aforesaid, provided however that as regards such general order or regulation as aforesaid, the same shall specify the maximum penalty which may be inflicted for any breach thereof, and shall be laid on the table of this Dáil and shall take effect on the expiration of four days thereafter, during which this Dáil shall be in session, unless this Dáil shall have previously passed a resolution disallowing the same."
THE PRESIDENT'S MOTION. - CLAUSE 4.
My amendment to that reads:—"And it confirms such sanction for a further period of fourteen days from the date of the passing of this resolution, subject to the renewal of such sanction for further periods of time, in no one case to exceed fourteen days, as and when the Army Council shall show cause on a report to the Dáil on the state of the country under these powers hereby granted to it." It may be more desirable to make the period one month, if found agreeable, and I don't propose that we should be put under the necessity of going through this lengthy debate every time this comes up. It would automatically arise and I would merely point out to the Ministry that this is merely a form that is adopted under such circumstances in all legislature so as to keep the matter within some control of the legislature, if only as a matter of form.
The amendment moved by Deputy Figgis is not accepted, and its rejection by the movers of the resolution is not due to the fact that a period of 14 days is specified. It would exist just as strongly if the period were double or treble that time. The position is that a state of armed rebellion exists, and, in fact, all these powers that are asked for in this resolution for the Army already exist for the Army. And it is merely so that each Deputy here may realise the position, and may take what is properly his share of the responsibilities of the time. It is merely to secure that this resolution is brought forward at all. When the state of armed rebellion ends these powers, or the exercise of these powers by the Army Council, naturally lapses. That is the position, and to put on an amendment of this kind, that this was something that the Parliament was giving, and would take away, or reconsider in fourteen days, or some specified period, presents a false picture of the situation, the situation being that the life of the country is challenged, and the existence of the Parliament is challenged, that its authority and jurisdiction are challenged. And until it is reasserted, and until the life of the country is safe, then the Army has these powers automactically and apart from any Act of this Parliament, and must have these powers if the State has to live and in every State would have these powers quite apart from a specific resolution of legislature.
The amendment was put, and declared lost.
The resolution, as amended, was then put and declared carried. It read as follows:—
|
TRANSLATION. |
|
|
(1) DE BHRÍ gur chuir an Rialtas mar dhualgas ar an Arm an pobal do chosaint ó bhaol agus dea-órdú do bhunú arís ar fnaid na tíre agus gur chuireadar de chúram ar an Arm údarás an Rialtais do dhaingniú I ngach páirt den tír ina bhfuiltear ag cur I gcoinne an údaráis sin le fóiréigean. |
“(1) WHEREAS the Government has entrusted to the Army the duty of securing the public safety and restoring order throughout the country and has placed on the Army the responsibility for the establishment of the authority of the Government in all parts of the country in which that authority is challenged by force: |
|
“,(2) AGUS DE BHRÍ gur chuir Comhairle an Airm in úil don Rialtas go bhfuil sé riachtanach chun an dualgas agus an cúram do cuireadh ortha do chólíona le héifeacht go mbeadh comhacht ag Comhairle an Airm chun Cúirteanna no Coistí Airm do chur ar bun ag a mbeadh lán-chomhacht chun cúiseanna do scrúdú agus daoine do phionósú ar iad d'fháil ciontach I ngíomhartha do thiocfadh trasna ar no do mhoilleodh údarás an Rialtais do lán-dhaingniú agus go mbeadh comhacht ag Comhairle an Airm údarás do thabhairt le daoine atá I mbraighdeanas Airm ag Comhairle an Airm do chimeád in áiteanna atá laistigh no lasmuich de líomatáiste dlí an Rialtais agus fós go mbeadh comracht acu deighleáil agus seilbh in airm theine do rialú. |
“(2) AND WHEREAS the Army Council has represented to the Government that in order to discharge effectively the duty and responsibility so placed on them it is essential that the Army Council should have power to set up Military Courts or Committees with full powers of enquiring into charges and inflicting punishments on persons found guilty of acts calculated to interfere with or delay the effective establishment of the authority of the Government, and that the Army Council should have power to authorise the detention in places whether within or without the area of the jurisdiction of the Government of persons in Military custody and power to control the dealing in and possession of firearms; |
|
“(3) AGUS DE BHRÍ gur soiléir don Rialtas fírinne na faisnéise sin agus gur thoiligheadar go ndéanfaí fé údarás Chomhairle an Airm gach no aon cheann de sna nithe agus na rudaí seo leanas. |
“(3) AND WHEREAS the Government, recognising the force of such representations, has sanctioned the doing under the authority of the Army Council of all or any of the following matters and things: |
|
(a) Cúirteanna no Coistí Airm do chur ar bun chun cúiseanna I gcoinne daoine I dtaobh aon cheann de sna cionta a luaidhtear 'na dhiaidh seo do sgrúdú ar choiníoll, amh, go mbeidh mar bhall de gach Cúirt no Coiste Airm dá leithéid duine ambain ar a luighead a ainmneoidh an t-Aire un Chosaint agus a dheimhneoidh an Dlí-Oigigeach bheith 'na dhuine go bhfuil eolas agus taithí dlí aige. |
(a) The setting up of Military Courts or Committees for the enquiring into charges against persons in respect of any of the offences hereinafter mentioned provided however that every such Military Court or Committee shall include as a member thereof at least one person nominated by the Minister of Defence and certified by the Law Officer to be a person of legal knowledge and experience; |
|
(b) Na Cúirteanna no Coistí Airm sin do sgrúdú chás daoine go bhfuil aon cheann de sna cionta so leanas curtha 'na leith sé sin le rá:— |
(b) The enquiry by such Military Courts or Committees into the cases of persons charged with any of the offences following that is to say— |
|
(1) Bheith páirteach I no do chabhrú le no do chur suas chun aon ionsuidhe do dhéanamh ar no fórsa d'úsáid I gcoinne an Airm Náisiúnta. |
(1) Taking part in or aiding or abetting any attack upon or using force against the National Forces; |
|
(2) Creach tóiteán lot gabháil seilbh no aistriú no díobháil mhídhleathach do déanamh do mhaoin phuiblí no phríobháideach. |
(2) Looting arson destruction seizure unlawful possession or removal of or damage to any public or private property; |
|
(3) Bheith I seilbh gan údarás chóir aon bhoma no aon rud de nádúir bhoma no aon dynamite, gelignite, no aon stuff phléasgach eile no aon phiostal, rifle, gunna no arm teine eile no arm marbhthach no aon lón d'aon arm teine dá leithéid. |
(3) Having possession without proper authority of any bomb or article in the nature of a bomb or any dynamite gelignite or other explosive substance or any revolver rifle gun or other firearm or lethal weapon or any ammunition for such firearm; |
|
(4) Aon ordú no riail ghenerálta a dhéanfaidh Comhairle an Airm do bhrise agus na Cúirteanna no Coistí Airm sin do thabhairt bhreith bháis no bhreith dhaorphríosúin ar feadh aon téarma no bhreith phríosúin ar feadh aon téarma no do chur fíneála d'aon mhéid le no gan phríosún ar aon duine a ciontófar ag aon Chúirt no Choiste mar sin in aon cheann de sna cionta roimhráite. Ar choiníoll ná cuirfear aon bhreith bháis mar sin I bhfeidhm ach fé cho-shighniú dhá bhall de Chomhairle an Airm. |
(4) The breach of any general order or regulation made by the Army Council and the infliction by such Military Courts or Committees of the punishment of death or of penal servitude for any period or of imprisonment for any period or of a fine for any amount either with or without imprisonment on any person found guilty by such Court or Committee of any of the offences aforesaid. Provided that no such sentence of death be executed except under the countersignature of two members of the Army Council; |
|
(c) Fé údarás Chomhairle an Airm gach no aon duine atá tógtha no cimeádtha 'na phríosúnach ag an Arm Náisiúnta d'aistriú go dtí aon áit no áiteanna laistigh no lasmuich de liómatáiste dlí an Rialtais agus aon duine mar sin do chimeád no do chur don phríosún in aon áit no áiteanna laistigh no lasmuich den líomatáiste dlí roimh-ráite. |
(c) The removal under authority of the Army Council of any person taken prisoner arrested or detained by the National Forces to any place or places whether within or without the area of jurisdiction of the Government and the detention or imprisonment of any such persons in any place or places within or without the area aforesaid; |
|
(d) Díol seilbh aistriú agus deighleáil I bpiostail riflí gunnaí agus airm theine eile do rialú agus do riara. |
(d) The regulation and control of the sale possession transfer of and dealing in revolvers rifles guns and other firearms; |
|
“(4) ANOIS deimhnigheann agus molann an Dáil seo déanamh gach no aon cheann de sna gníomhartha agus na nithe roimh-ráite ag no fé údarás Chomhairle an Airm agus an cead ata tugtha ag an Rialtas uatha mar gurb é tuairim na Dála gur riachtanas Airm déanamh na nithe uile roimh-ráite ag no fé údarás Chomhairle an Airm. Ar choiníoll amh maidir le n-a leithéid d'órdú no de riail ghenearalta mar roimh-ráite go luaidhfear ann an pionós is mó is féidir do chur ar dhuine as ucht a bhriste agus go leagfar é ar bhord na Dála so agus go mbeidh feidhm aige ar chríochnú cheithre lá ar a mbeidh an Dáil I siosóin 'na dhiaidh sin mara mbeidh rún curtha I bhfeidhm ag an nDáil seo roimhe sin á chur ar ceal. |
“(4) NOW this Dáil being of opinion that the doing by or under the authority of the Army Council of the several matters aforesaid is a matter of Military necessity doth hereby ratify and approve of the sanction given by the Government and of the doing by or under the Authority of the Army Council of all or any of the acts and matters aforesaid. Provided however that as regards such general order or regulation as aforesaid the same shall specify the maximum penalty which may be inflicted for any breach thereof and shall be laid on the table of this Dáil and shall take effect on the expiration of four days thereafter during which this Dáil shall be in session unless this Dáil shall have previously passed a resolution disallowing the same. |
|
“Baile Atha Cliath an 28adh lá so de Mheadhon Foghmhair, 1922.” |
“Dublin this 28th day of September, 1922.” |
A division was demanded by Mr. William O'Brien.
On a division the President's motion was declared carried, the voting being 47 For and 15 Against.:—
|
Tá. |
Níl. |
|
Liam T. Mac Cosgair.Donchadh Ó Gúaire.Uaitear Mac Cúmhaill.Seán Ó Maolruaidh.Micheál Ó hAonghusa.Domhnall Ó Mocháin.Seán Ó hAodha.Séamus Breathnach.Pádraig Mag Ualghairg.Deasmhúmhain Mac Gearailt.Seán Ó Ruanaidh.Micheál de Duram.Seán Mac Garaidh.Risteárd Ó Máolchatha.Pilib Mac Cosgair.Micheál de Staineas.Seosamh Mag Craith.Domhnall Mac Carthaigh.Maolmhuire Mac Eochadha.Earnán Altun.Sir Séamus Craig.Gearóid Mac Giobuin.Liam Thrift.Seosamh Ó Faóileachain.Seoirse Mac Niocaill.Piaras Béaslaí.Séamus Ó Cruadhláoich.Criostóir Ó Broin.Risteard Mac Liam.Cáoimhghín Ó hUigín.Proinsias Bulfin.Tomás Mac Artuir.Séamus Ó Dóláin.Aindriu Ó Laimhín.Risteard Ó hAodha.Liam Ó hAodha.Éamon Ó Dúgáin.Peadar Ó hAodha.Séamus Ó Murchadhá.Liam Mac Sioghaird.Alasdair Mac Cába.Tomás Ó Domhnaill.Earnan de Blaghd.Uinseann de Faoite.Domhnall Ó Broin.Séamus de Burca.Micheál Ó Dubhghaill. |
Pádraig Ó Gamhna.Tomás de Nógla.Riobard Ó Deághaidh.Tomás Mac Eoin.Liam Ó Briain.Tomás Ó Conaill.Aodh Ó Culachain.Séamus Eabhroid.Liam Ó Daimhin.Cathal Ó Seanain.Seán Buitléir.Nioclas Ó Faoláin.Domhnall Ó Muirgheasa.Risteard Mac Fheorais.Domhnall Ó Dubhghaill. |