asked the President if his attention had been drawn to a resolution, passed by one House of the Oireachtas, that no action should be taken by the Executive Council to commit this State to membership of the League of Nations without the sanction of the Oireachtas, and whether, after the adoption of this resolution, the Minister for External Affairs presented a note applying for membership of the League without the sanction of, or previous consultation, with, the Oireachtas? And whether in such matters, it is the policy of the Executive Council to act motu proprio.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - LEAGUE OF NATIONS.
replied: Our application for admission to the League of Nations was sent in prior to the discussion in the Seanad (i.e., on the 17th instant). This action was in compliance with the expressed wishes of the Legislature, seeing that by resolution of the 18th of September, 1922, the Dail, ... then the sole Legislature,... directed the Executive Council to apply for membership as and when they found it advantageous to do so.
Further delay in sending the application would have been calculated to prevent the matter of Ireland's admission being considered at this year's meeting of the Assembly of the League, thus delaying the matter for another twelve months.
The Oireachtas will have ample opportunity to decide on the matter, as having regard to the Covenant of the League of Nations a bill will be introduced to support the application by the necessary guarantees.
Arising out of the answer, I beg to ask the Minister if, in his opinion, a resolution passed in general terms seven months before the application, and at a time when all the nations constituting the Council of the League of Nations were in a state of peace, should, although adopted by the First House of the Oireachtas, have been proceeded upon in face of a resolution passed and adopted in direct and specific terms by the Second House on the very day before the application, and at a time when certain of the nations constituting the Council are in a state of covert and potential war?
We have ruled on this matter before. A Minister cannot be expected to express an opinion upon his own actions.
The supplementary question apparently was written before the question was answered.