There is a matter not on the Agenda which I ask you to allow me to mention. It is in connection with a letter I have received from the Ceann Comhairle in respect of accommodation for the Oireachtas. We have had some officials from the Board of Works looking at the Royal Hospital at Kilmainham and submitting plans. These plans are now available for examination, and I do not know whether the Deputies have read this letter or not. The last paragraph in the letter deals with the method of bringing this matter definitely and immediately before the Dáil and Seanad. I would agree to the suggestion of the Ceann Comhairle that a number of Deputies might be appointed to a Committee to which the Seanad would also be invited, to appoint members, and, if the Dáil is agreeable, I would be inclined to think that the number of members on that Committee might be a little more than six. I would suggest eight or ten. I would ask the Seanad also to appoint a number of members to examine the plans and to view the site of the Royal Hospital, and report back to the Oireachtas as to the views of the members after they have examined the question as to the suitability of the premises. I think in a condensed form the Ceann Comhairle has put before us very plainly the main difficulties of the housing of the Oireachtas. That, however, is a matter which might be examined by this Committee. We have got to consider it from the point of view of getting available suitable accommodation at the shortest possible loss of time and at the least possible expense. These are the only reasons why the Executive Council has been considering the Royal Hospital. The selection of this is not a matter to which a future Dáil would be committed, if they can find more suitable accommodation, and if they are prepared and have available a sufficient sum of money to spend in order to provide that accommodation. There is nothing to prevent them exploring other fields or getting better housing accommodation for the Dáil and Seanad. My suggestion would be that on to-morrow we would elect a certain number of Deputies to this Committee, and that we might send a request to the Seanad asking them to do the same thing. We would then be in a position to place all the plans we have got and all the information at our disposal before this Committee.
HOUSING OF THE OIREACHTAS.
The suggestion, if I understand the President aright, is to proceed to-morrow to nominate and elect a Committee for the purpose of going into the question of a site and buildings for the Oireachtas?
Yes.
And to send to-day a message to the Seanad acquainting them of our intention, and asking them to appoint a like number on the Committee?
Yes.
Well, strictly in order, to send them a message we would want to know the Terms of Reference of the Committee, and decide how many we will appoint to the Committee.
That is a matter for the consideration of the Dáil. I suggest ten members on the Committee from the Dáil, or if we compromise on your own suggestion and make it eight I would be agreeable. My suggestion is that the election of the Dáil members on this Committee should not take place to-morrow, as some of them did not have notice of this. I know some members of the Dáil have very strong views on the matter. I do not think we should select any particular site until we have the report from this Committee before us. The motion now is, that a number of Deputies be appointed to this Committee from the Dáil.
To go into the question of a suitable site and building for the Oireachtas, and to report to the Dáil?
Yes; and to ask the Seanad to appoint a number of its members on this Committee. The whole Committee would be a Committee of the Oireachtas, and their report would be considered by both the Dáil and the Seanad.
I think the suggestion is a good one. I have your definition of the Terms of Reference as you related them a moment ago. They need a Committee to examine any proposals which may, perchance, come before them, not confining the selection to one or other of the present suggestions in case an alternative might be put forward.
Is not that the President's idea?
Yes. I will submit a motion before the adjournment.
Yes, so that we can send a message to the Seanad informing them of the numbers we will appoint on the Committee and the Terms of Reference.
We will do that to-day.
In the meantime we could arrange about the numbers.
Yes; and report progress from Committee, so as to leave some time for discussion.