If there is going to be a debate on this I would like to remind the Dáil that through an oversight of mine before entering on the Committee Stage of the Estimates I omitted to tell the Deputies that I saw to-day Deputy Padraig O Maille, An Leas Cheann Comhairle, and I regret to say he will not be available for service during any period this side of Christmas. I suggest, therefore, that it would be necessary that there should be some other Deputy appointed who could take the chair here from time to time, during my short absences. I think this might be a suitable time, if we are going to have a discussion, to come to a conclusion on that matter.
DAIL IN COMMITTEE. - ACTING CHAIRMAN.
It is quite impossible for the Chairman to sit in the Chair all the time.
I have much pleasure in proposing that Deputy George Nicholls be appointed Deputy Speaker during the absence of Mr. Padraig O Maille.
I beg to second.
I move that Deputy Fitzgibbon be appointed to act in the meantime.
I have great pleasure in seconding it.
Unfortunately owing to the way in which my education was neglected in my youth and the difficulty I find in late years of getting an old dog to learn new tricks I am afraid that my want of knowledge of the National language precludes me from carrying out the duties of the Chair. From the way the business of this Dáil has been conducted from the start it would, I think, be improper for anyone to occupy the Chair who was not familiar with the language in which every member is entitled to address the Dáil.
I take it that Deputy Fitzgibbon's name is therefore withdrawn.
It is not so much withdrawal as unfitness to fill the Chair at present.
I was touched by the last two words that Deputy Fitzgibbon used, "At present," so he is hopeful for the future.
I live in hope.
I think that Deputy Fitzgibbon might with the assistance of the Clerk of the Dáil fill the office.
As Deputy Fitzgibbon has withdrawn, I propose that Deputy Figgis be appointed.
My view would be that it would do no harm if the Dáil would agree to have two people on either of whom I might call. Perhaps the Dáil would agree to that?
This appointment is one contemplated by Standing Orders because the idea was that the Dáil might meet some day and find both the regularly constituted officials absent for some reason or another. We are now unfortunately dealing with a temporary appointment, but one which I feel will be of protracted duration. Therefore whoever is appointed would be sitting in your place for such time as you require for rest and refreshment, and therefore he must be qualified in all respects to fill the Chair.
I think you might press your suggestion about the two.
Would Deputy Fitzgibbon agree to my suggestion and leave it to my discretion by appointing two?
I am putting it on the ground of incapacity. Supposing some Deputy were to use expressions which were challenged, it would be impossible for me to rule on the point, and the Dáil might be reduced to turmoil or disorder through the incapacity of the Chair to rule. We know that tempers sometimes get heated, and it is when tempers get heated that such questions arise, and that the Chair should be really impartial and have a knowledge of the business.
There is no member perfect. Every member, no matter who he may be, will suffer from some disability, and I suggest that the disability that Deputy Fitzgibbon speaks of is the one disability which would be easily overcome if the other members of the Dáil assisted. There are other disabilities that might not be so easily overcome, and which members of the Dáil would not, or could not, so readily assist him with. We might have a Deputy appointed to the Chair who, shall I say, is slightly hard of hearing. We might have another who has an unruly temper. That is not so easily overcome by the assistance that the Deputies in general can give. The difficulty that Deputy Fitzgibbon speaks of can easily be overcome if members of the Dáil are generally prepared to assist him.
I would like to point out also that the great objection urged by Deputy Fitzgibbon is, that he is afraid some Deputies might use some disorderly remarks in Gaelic. Now, the whole record of this Assembly is that the only disorderly remarks that have been made were made in English, and possibly, if we all spoke in Irish, we would never be disorderly, so I think that apprehension of his has no precedent to warrant it. Another point is, that the duties of the Deputy Chinn Comhairle are of very short duration, and it is likely that whoever is appointed will have no difficulty, and that Deputy Fitzgibbon will be able to rise to the occasion. In any case, if there were some remarks made that brought about the anger of certain Deputies, unfortunately there are many of us just as incapable of knowing whether we are disorderly or not when speaking in the Dáil, and the Clerk of the Dáil could act as interpreter and inform the Deputy Chinn Comhairle of the nature of the observation.
It is not only that, but it is also when dealing with the irrelevancy of arguments. I do not think that is so likely, as Deputies have been so orderly, and as Deputy Milroy says, there have been so few personal scenes since we came here a few weeks ago, there is very little fear on that account. But I do fear irrelevant arguments.
We are dealing with a very special situation. Would the Dáil agree that the names of Deputy George Nicholls and Deputy Fitzgibbon be placed on a panel, so that I may call upon either of them to occupy the Chair for a brief space? I take it the Dáil overrules Deputy Fitzgibbon's objection.
Agreed.