According to our new Standing Orders if a message from Seanad Eireann requires any action to be taken, or anything to be done by Dáil Eireann it shall be set down in the Order paper next prepared. We received a Message from the Seanad on Tuesday, and it is in the Order paper to-day. We have two such Messages. The question is what action you propose to take on these Messages.
DAIL IN COMMITTEE. - MESSAGES FROM THE SEANAD.
Message from the Seanad requesting the approval of the Dáil to a Joint Conference between the Standing Orders Committees of the two Houses, with a view to the adoption of agreed Standing Orders regulating inter-communication between the two Houses.
I thought that we had adopted Standing Orders with regard to this first matter.
We have.
Well, If the Dáil wishes that this Message be sent to the Standing Orders Committee for consideration to let them take whatever action on it they desire, it can be done. I do not know, having already decided upon a certain line of action ourselves, if it is necessary to do this. I understood that we had adopted certain regulations. Whether the Seanad has seen them or not, I do not know.
I would be pleased to support the motion of the Minister.
Perhaps if we knew what the motion of the Minister was it would clear the matter.
The motion is that the message from Seanad Eireann be forwarded to the Committee on Procedure to take such action thereon as they consider advisable.
Is that the President's motion?
Yes.
The motion is proposed by the President and seconded by Deputy Johnson.
Motion put and agreed to.
"Message from the Seanad requesting that, before any final arrangements are made relative to the permanent location of the Oireachtas, including the questions of site, locality and allocation of the necessary chambers and offices between the two Houses, a joint conference of members of both Houses be called together to consider these matters."
I think it would be better to postpone this message until after the adjournment at Easter. It is possible that at that time we will be in a position to express a definite opinion upon the proposal as to the location. Permanent location is mentioned here. Well, we have not any such location in mind. When I say that it is not permanent what I mean is that eight or ten years is what we have in mind if the Royal Hospital site were chosen. We have not arranged the final plan. The plans are in course of preparation, and some necessary action has to be taken as regards the lease. There is a charter, I believe, a very old charter, which would require to be amended, I think, by an Act. I do not know whether it may be necessary to get accommodation with the British Government about it, but I know in any case we are not ready to deal with this matter just now. After the recess, or Easter adjournment, we may be able to give the Dáil more information as to how the matter stands.
Would the President consider the advisability of not discussing this matter until after the General Election?
The question is whether before the final arrangements are made the Seanad will have an opportunity of considering the matter—that is the purport of the message.
I propose the postponement of the reply to the Message for three weeks.
And send that reply accordingly.
Of course it is unnecessary to say that the Seanad may be informed that due consideration will be given to that Message.
Would it be permissible to add to that message to the Seanad that the present Parliament is merely a continuation of the Parliament of the Provisional Government, and that a matter that is of paramount importance to the whole nation might be more appropriately dealt with by a regular Parliament set up after the General Election?
This discussion is prejudging the decision. If you propose to discuss it in three weeks time, why have this discussion now?
It seems to me that by the proposal that is suggested we are telling the Seanad that we do not agree to their request. Although they used the word "final," it is quite obvious that they desire to have a conference and consultation before you proceed with the semi-final stage or the discussion. It would not treat them as they desire to be treated if you presented them with the final decision of the Ministry and said: "These are our plans; take them or leave them," and then say that that was acceding to their request. It is quite obvious that what they desire is to have an opportunity of discussing the matter in the earlier stages rather than in the final stages, and it seems to me to be reasonable enough to say to the Seanad that the Dáil and the Seanad are both to be consulted before even we get to the penultimate stage. I rather think that we should ask the Seanad to nominate several of its members and ask the Dáil to nominate several of its members to discuss the general situation with the Ministry.
Would it not meet the case the President has in mind if we were to reply saying that we agreed to the general proposal, but that after a month's time the matter would come before the Dáil, and might also come before the Seanad in connection with the nomination of certain persons?
I have no objection if it be intended that we should hear what the Seanad has to say, to meet them to-morrow or Monday or Tuesday. I thought the request meant that before finally deciding the matter we should have a joint meeting of both Houses— that is, when we could have some definite final proposition to put before them. If the request be merely to discuss the matter generally and obtain their views, I am prepared to meet them at any time before or after the adjournment. I understood that what they desired was to see the final arrangements and to be allowed to express an opinion upon them.
Perhaps somebody would frame a reply to the Message in writing and submit it to the Dáil.
It would be hardly necessary that it should be done to-day; it could be taken to-morrow.
Yes; we can take the reply to-morrow.
The Dáil adjourned at 5.5 p.m. until 3 o'clock on Friday.