Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Dec 1922

Vol. 2 No. 1

ÚDARÁS Ó SHEANASCAL AN t-SAORSTAIT.

MICHEAL O hAODHA

Tá údarás fachta agam ó Sheanascal Shaorstáit Eireann Teachtaí Dháil Eireann do chur fé mhóid. Ba mhaith liom dá dtiocfadh na Teachtaí go dtí an bórd na nduine agus nduine.

I have been authorised by the Governor-General of the Irish Free State to administer the oath to the Deputies of Dáil Eireann. I would ask the Deputies to come to the table singly.

TEACHTAÍ DO CHUR FÉ MHÓID NÓ FÉ DHEARBHÚ.

The Deputies took and subscribed the Oath in the following order:—

Liam T. MacCosgair.

Caoimhghín Ó h-Uigín.

Éamon Ó Dúgáin.

Eoin Mac Néill.

Ristéard Ó Maolchatha.

Earnán de Blaghd.

Pádraig Ó hOgáin.

Seosamh Mag Craith.

Deasmhumhain Mac Gearailt.

Seamus Breathnach.

Úaitéar Mac Cumhaill.

Seán Ó Maolruaidh.

Criostoir Ó Broin.

Ristéard Ó hAodha.

Liam Mac Sioghaird.

Seoirse Ghabhain Uí Dhubhthaigh.

Uinseann de Faoite.

Seosamh Mac Giolla Bhrighde.

Peadar Ó hAodha.

Sir Séamus Craig.

Tomás Ó Domhnall.

Aindriu Ó Laimhín.

Liam Thrift.

Peadar Mac a Bháird.

Earnán Altún.

Seoirse Mac Niocaill.

Seán Mac Garaidh.

Proinsias Bulfin.

Seán Ó hAodha.

Proinsias Mag Aonghusa.

Micheál de Staineas.

Gearoid Mac Giobuin.

Seán Mac Haol.

Seosamh Ó Faoileacháin.

Darghal Figes.

Pádhraic Ó Máille.

Séamus de Burca.

Domhnall Mac Cartaigh.

Micheál Ó hAonghusa.

Pilib Mac Cosgair.

Piaras Beaslaí.

Séamus Ó Dóláin.

Seosamh Mag Fhionnlaoich.

Séamus Cruadhlaoich.

Pádraig O Braonáin.

Eoin Ó Dubhthaigh.

Seán Ó Lideadha.

Fionan Ó Loingsigh.

Liam Ó hAodha.

Donnchadh Ó Gúaire.

Sean Ó Ruanaidh.

Ristéard Mac Liam.

Domhnall Ó Broin.

Micheál Ó Dubhghaill.

Seán Ó Duinnín.

Liam Mag Aonghusa.

Maolmhuire Mac Eochadha.

Ailfrid Ó Broin.

Micheál de Duram.

Séamus Ó Murchadha.

Domhnall O Mócháin.

Pádraig Mag Ualghairg.

Tomás Mac Eoin.

Cathal O Seanáin.

Liam Ó Briain.

Tomás Ó Conaill.

Gearóid Ó Súileabháin.

Alasdair Mac Caba.

Liam Ó Daimhin.

Domhnall Ó Ceallacháin.

Risteard Mac Fheorais.

Aodh Ó Culacháin.

Nioclás Ó Faoileáin.

Domhnall Ó Muirgheasa.

Tomás de Nogla.

Seán Buitléir.

Seán Laidhin.

Riobard Ó Deaghaidh.

Seán Mac Eoin.

Mr. THOS. JOHNSON

Before proceeding with the business on the Agenda I would like to make a short statement. It is as follows: On the occasion of making our Declaration of Allegiance to the Constitution of Saorstát Eireann and of faithfulness to King George V. we desire to place on record the following:—"In conforming to clause 17 of the Constitution we follow the practice of the political parties of the workers in all countries where Capitalism is the established order, whether it works through the institutions of a Monarchy or through the Institutions of a Republic. We recognise the act of taking an "Oath of Allegiance" as a formality, a condition of Membership of the Legislature, implying no obligation other than the ordinary obligation of every person who accepts the privileges of citizenship. In complying with such a condition of membership we are giving effect to the will of the organised workers, that we should through our election endeavour to influence the laws and the administration thereof, in such manner as will lighten the burden of the poor, remove the evils of unemployment, bring to realisation the ideals of justice and liberty and finally lead to the dethronement of Capitalism and the substitution therefor of a Commonwealth based upon labour and service. The terms of the Treaty between Great Britain and Ireland signed on the 6th December, 1921, and the clauses of the Constitution conditioned by that Treaty concerning the relations between Great Britain and Ireland are accepted by us, as they are accepted by the people generally, under protest, having been imposed upon Ireland by the threat of superior force, and were not freely determined by the people of Ireland or their representatives. We make our Declaration of Allegiance intending to fulfil our pledge, with the proviso that if at any time it shall be deemed wise and expedient by the people of Ireland in the exercise of their sovereign right to denounce the Treaty or alter or amend the Constitution, in any respect whatever, nothing in our Declaration of Allegiance shall be a barrier to our freedom of action. We desire further to record that in promising to be faithful to King George V. and his successors we also promise to be equally faithful to the men and women of all nations whether they be rulers or subjects, heads of States or plain citizens."

That is signed by all the Labour Party, and practically says for our Party what was said by the representatives of the other parties in the last Dáil in January last.