This Article provides that this Assembly, as at present constituted, may, for a period not exceeding one year after this Constitution comes into operation, become and function as the first Parliament of Saorstát Eireann, conditional on the members of this Parliament complying with Article 17 of this Constitution, which is the Article providing for the Oath to be taken by Members. It will certainly be necessary that this Parliament will sit and continue to sit and function for a considerable time until the register on adult suffrage is prepared. The period mentioned here is merely a time limit, so that the arrangement may not last more than a year. It may not be necessary to sit for more than six or seven or eight months. I move that the Article be added to the Bill.
THE DÁIL IN COMMITTEE. - ARTICLE 77.
"After the date on which this Constitution comes into operation the House of the Parliament elected in pursuance of the Irish Free State (Agreement) Act, 1922 (being the Constituent Assembly for the settlement of this Constitution), may, for a period not exceeding one year from that date, but subject to compliance by the Members thereof with the provisions of Article 17 of this Constitution, exercise all the powers and authorities conferred on the Chamber/Dáil Eireann by this Constitution, and the first election for the Chamber/Dáil Eireann under Article 26 and 27 hereof shall take place as soon as possible after the expiration of such period."
Mr. O'HIGGINS
Mr. GAVAN DUFFY
I do not wish to raise any objection to this Article but perhaps deputies will agree it would be more becoming to define the present Parliament in some other way than by reference to an English Statute. I do not think, it could be suggested that it is necessary that we should refer to the Free State Parliament Act,. Why not use some other form of words? Perhaps between this and the next meeting the Ministry might frame a form of words that would get away from that objection.
Motion made and question put: "That Article 77 stand part of the Bill." Agreed.