In supporting the adjournment, I wish to occupy the attention of the Dáil for a moment with a point of privilege. Frequently I have noticed cases in the local newspapers where the privilege of the Dáil in regard to reporters attending here has been departed from by the use of certain expressions such as "Southern Ireland" for "the Free State," and others with which many of the Deputies are conversant. I would not have raised it because of that, but in answer to some questions by Deputy Figgis on Friday last I found it necessary to use the words "Dun Laoghaire" a few times in connection therewith, and I found that this paper omitted "Dun Laoghaire" and inserted "Kingstown." That may appear a small point, but attention has been drawn to it in certain weeklies and in correspondence, and I believe that sooner or later it would arise here, and perhaps better sooner than later, because it does not help us. I think that it is your duty to see that this discrepancy, whether deliberate or otherwise, is corrected.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE DAIL. - QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE.
On the question of the date for adjournment, I would like to ask the President whether there is any good reason for meeting for two days on that particular week, and whether the purpose would not just as well be served by carrying over to the following Tuesday. I think, unless there is very good reason, the Dáil would generally approve of an adjournment until the following Tuesday, and I think also it would be for the convenience of the Dáil if the Minister could indicate, without being too definite and without asking to bind himself, what would be the business for, say the week after the resumption.
My recollection of the reason for coming back that week has for the moment escaped my memory. I think it has to do with the Taxation Bill, and a certain length of time is absorbed in dealing with the Bill, which has to become law before a certain date. I think there was some reason like that.
I think there is 15 days in question from the end of the Financial Year.
Yes, some point like that. I forget exactly what it was but it was certainly borne in on me that we ought to meet the second week and that is why I mentioned Thursday.
With regard to the other point that the Postmaster-General has raised, I am not quite clear as to what my duty is with regard to the Press. I am not accepting exactly what the Postmaster-General said on that, but a particular paper has consistently used terms which are not the terms we use in our ordinary procedure, which are used in our reports and which are used generally. In this particular instance I have had the editor of the paper spoken to on the telephone and he stated that he was sorry that the name "Kingstown" was inserted instead of "Dun Laoghaire," and he agreed to print the answer to the question as it appears in our Official Report. If the Dáil thinks that anything further should be done in the matter, it can, of course, take suitable action, but that has been done this evening, at any rate.
Are we to take it that the business on the resumption will be financial?
That will be the first business.
The Dáil adjourned at 9.5 p.m. until April 12th, 1923.