I want to announce to the Dáil that it is my intention to ask for assent to the appointment of Deputy McGilligan as Minister for Industry and Commerce, and consequently as a member of the Executive Council. To put the matter in order, I move that the assent of the Dáil be given to that nomination.
NEW MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE.
I just raise a question because of precedent as to whether a matter of that kind should be approved of on this formal presentation, and as to why we should not have some notice to enable us to consider the matter before we are asked to give assent or otherwise?
I would be very willing to give any notice reasonably required. I put it to the Dáil that in this case I was asked last week to know when I could make up my mind on this subject, and when I hoped to have an opportunity of consulting the Executive Council. Deputies will quite understand, in view of the fact that two Ministers had left the Executive Council, that a considerable amount of heavy work has fallen upon those who remained. In that connection, I may say that a good deal of time has been absorbed in the last few days on one matter affecting the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. While I admit that the Dáil has a perfect right to time or fair notice for considering a matter of this sort, I do urge in the circumstances that some latitude should be extended in view of the pressing matters of public importance involved in this particular Ministry. I say that I was pressed last week for an early intimation of a nomination to this office, and I thought that in the circumstances there would be no application for time to consider the nomination.
It is only a question of 24 hours. Would 24 hours' notice make much of a difference? I cannot help feeling that the nomination of a Minister ought to be on the Order Paper for the day, so that Deputies would know that such a nomination was coming on, and could be in their places either to oppose or to support it. As Deputy Johnson says, this is a case of establishing a precedent. The announcement of the name is absolutely right, but to ask the Dáil to approve of the nomination now without any previous notice having been given to absent Deputies is, I suggest, pushing the matter too far.
The point is that we have the right to assume that there was a certain definite purpose in the minds of the Provisional Parliament which framed the Constitution and which says that Executive Ministers shall be nominated by the President and approved of by the Dáil. Presumably approval necessitates some consideration, and that consideration cannot be given at a moment's notice. I press for at least some consideration, even if it is only for one day. I would be quite prepared to agree to that, but I think that we ought not to let it be assumed that it is a matter of course that the Dáil would assent.
I am quite willing to give the 24 hours' notice and to take the nomination after Questions to-morrow.
Ordered that the President's nomination of a new Minister for Industry and Commerce be taken after Questions on to-morrow (Thursday).
May I ask if it is the intention that the Executive Council shall only consist of six members in future instead of seven?
Not exactly for the future; I say for the present.
But you have only nominated one person and there are two vacancies.
Yes, for the present.