Before the adjournment motion be taken may one enquire exactly what will be the procedure for the next few days, and what business shall be taken? If a statement could be made to that effect by the President, now that he is elected, I think it would be for the convenience of Deputies.
BUSINESS OF THE DAIL.
AN CEANN COMHAIRLE
The Order paper for to-morrow, as at present drawn up, is:—"(1) Nomination of the Executive Council by the President." That is in accordance with the Constitution. "(2) Motion by the President with regard to Ministries, the holders of which shall not be members of the Executive Council. (3) Motion by the President for the appointment of a Committee in accordance with Article 55 of the Constitution." That is to say for the appointment of a Committee to recommend to the Dáil the names of Deputies who shall be Ministers but not members of the Executive Council. The Committee under the Constitution must be appointed so as to be representative of all parties and it was appointed on the last occasion on the principle of the single transferable vote.
Will An Ceann Comhairle say whether the terms of these motions will be on the Order Paper?
AN CEANN COMHAIRLE
It will be impossible for the terms of the second motion with regard to Ministries to be on the Order Paper until the names of the members of the Executive Council are disclosed, and also the name of the Ministry which each member of the Executive Council shall hold. In so far as that information is not available the names of the External Ministries will not be on the Order Paper.
Are you in a position to inform us when we may expect to have the Governor-General's speech?
AN CEANN COMHAIRLE
I have no information on that matter.
It might be information for the Deputies if I say that it will not be taken earlier than Tuesday week. I may announce that it is our intention in the event of that resolution passing to accept nominations up to 12 o'clock on Saturday, and we would require another meeting of the Dáil for the election on Tuesday.
Will the Dáil sit on Friday?
It is not intended at present.
Would you allow me, a Chinn Chomhairle, to raise a matter on the adjournment in connection with a circular which emanated from Mountjoy Prison on Friday evening as regards the conditions which are stated to prevail there, and to ask whether an enquiry would be held at once into the contents of that circular for the purpose of either repudiating it or altering the conditions which the circular states exist. I would like to get a few words in on the motion for the adjournment when the leader of the Farmers' Party raises the other question.
Allow me to correct the Deputy. I am not in that position.
AN CEANN COMHAIRLE
It has been our practice to allow only one matter to be raised on the motion for adjournment, and notice has already been given by Deputy Gorey.
In view of the great urgency of this matter and the sensational statements in this circular which is going broadcast over the country may I ask now whether the Ministry would take immediate steps to hold an enquiry? There were two statements submitted to me by a deputation which called on me in connection with an other public position which I occupy. If the statement in the circular is not true I think, in the interests of the Government and of the Dáil, it should be repudiated, and the only way to settle the matter is to have an enquiry If it is true I should say that those who are in authority in the prison, and have been named, should be removed from their positions which they occupy. I will hand over the documents to the President and the Minister for Defence for investigation.
I do not know whether I ought to deal with this matter here. I have not seen the documents that Deputy Alfred Byrne refers to, but I am aware of what the conditions are in Mountjoy gaol. There are no conditions there that any objection can be taken to. Certain disciplinary action had recently to be taken in Mountjoy gaol, but that action was taken to uphold the regulations that are absolutely necessary for prison discipline.
I will hand to the Minister the documents that I have referred to.