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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Sep 1923

Vol. 5 No. 2

EXTERNAL MINISTERS— - APPOINTMENT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

The PRESIDENT: I move:—“Go dtoghtar Coiste den Dáil ar a mbeidh 15 Teachtai chun Molta do dheanamh don Dáil do reir Airtiogail 55 den Bhunreacht i dtaobh na n-Airi i gcoir Talmhuiochta, Iascaigh, Rialtais Aitiula agus Oifig an Phuist. Go dtoghtar an Coiste do reir an Vote ionaistrithe singil; Gur aon duine deag a bheidh mar quorum den Choiste.”

“That a Committee of the Dáil, con sisting of 15 Deputies, be chosen to make recommendations to the Dáil in accordance with Article 55 of the Con stitution as to the Ministers for Agri culture, Fisheries, Local Government and the Post Office; that the Committee be elected by the single transferable vote; that the quorum of the Committee be eleven.”

I think, before other members retire for afternoon tea, that they ought to be informed of the necessity for voting when the Ballot takes place. It is advisable that there should be a full attendance of members so as to get the actual effect of the Constitution.

I second.

Motion put and agreed to.

Nomination papers for this Committee have been prepared, and I would suggest, if it meets with the approval of Deputies, that nominations should be received in the Clerk's office up to twelve o'clock noon on Saturday next, and that the election should take place on Tuesday. If the voting papers could be handed in between three and four on Tuesday it would allow the doing of other business on Tuesday, and we might be able to get the result announced on Tuesday evening.

What is in the mind of the Ministry in this matter? Do they desire that the new appointments shall be made at an early date, or do they desire that the actual appointments should be postponed for some time? I rather anticipated that the appointment of the Committee would be finished this week and that the Committee would meet at once. I have no doubt the decisions have already been taken. Therefore, the final result of the election of this Committee, that is the appointments of the Ministers, could be completed at an early date next week. I do not know what the intention of the Ministry may be in regard to the continuation of the sittings of the Dáil, but I have heard it whispered that there is likely to be an adjournment some day next week for a week or two. If that is the case we ought to get rid of this little problem before this adjournment. If we are only to take the election of the Committee on Tuesday, then it means if they are to do any business allotted to them while the other people are adjourning or enjoying the adjournment, the decision will be postponed until the resumption after the adjournment. That, I think, will be too long distant. I suggest we get a Committee elected this week.

By what process?

Nomination to-morrow, and election on Saturday. I suggest that the attendance here now is as great as it will be, and we can take the nominations to-night.

I would like to point out this to the Deputy. He knows some of the difficulties we were in last year. Permission is asked to introduce a Bill on the 1st of the month. The second reading takes place on the 3rd with some accommodation from the House. If it passes its second reading on the 3rd it cannot be taken in Committee until the 7th. So that between the date of the introduction of the Bill and the going into the actual discussion on Committee something like six days must elapse. Let us assume the Governor-General delivers his speech at a given date. Obviously members want to see that in print before it is discussed. We were hoping to have the first reading of the Judiciary Bill this evening, the second reading on Tuesday. This election could take place on Tuesday, and we could have the Governor-General's speech on the 3rd of October. The Judiciary Bill could go into Committee on that date. Let us give two or three days for that. Then a discussion could take place on the Governor-General's speech. In the absence of such arrangements as that we would be almost committed to bringing members up from the country for a day in the week. We anticipate bringing them up on Tuesday next would obviate the necessity of bringing them up one day only in the week until we settle down to business.

The proposal is to meet next Tuesday and to adjourn until the 3rd of October, which will be a Wednesday. Let the Committee meet that week and make recommendations.

I am in no hurry for the Committee, but it is advisable that the Minister for Local Government be appointed soon.

I do not think Deputy Johnson's programme could be carried out this week as this is Thursday.

I thought there might be some business to-morrow, or in any case if the nominations be taken to-day the election of a Committee could be taken to-morrow and the Committee could meet next week and get through its business. If full consideration has been given to the matter I do not mind.

Nominations will be accepted up to Saturday, at 12 noon, in the Clerk's office. The voting papers can be handed in on Tuesday before 4 o'clock. The result will be ready on Tuesday evening before the Dáil adjourns, that is before 8.30. Ballot papers can be sent out on Saturday.

There are a number of new members who are not perhaps aware that they have the power to nominate a person. Any single member of the Dáil can nominate another member. Nominations are not limited, but I think they should be limited to one.

If the ballot papers are posted on Saturday some of the members may not get them.

Might not the papers be distributed to Deputies at the meeting of the Dáil on Tuesday?

Yes, we can distribute them on Tuesday in the Dáil, and they can be handed in before 4 o'clock, if that is considered a better arrangement. We will inform Deputies that their presence at a meeting on Tuesday is necessary.

Before coming to the next business, I might point out that it is necessary, under the Standing Orders, to receive nominations for the position of Leas-Cheann Comhairle, or Deputy Speaker. Only one nomination has been received so far, that of Deputy Padraic O'Maille, and his name will appear on the Order Paper on Tuesday. The election of Leas-Cheann Comhairle will be part of the business for Tuesday next.

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