Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 1924

Vol. 9 No. 8

DAIL IN COMMITTEE. - SESSIONAL COMMITTEE OF SELECTION.

Mr. HUGHES

I beg to move the following report of the Sessional Committee of Selection:—

1. The Committee met on Tuesday, 4th November, 1924,

(a) to nominate Deputies to fill three vacancies on the Public Accounts Committee;

(b) to nominate one Deputy to fill a vacancy on the Committee of Procedure and Privileges;

(c) to consider the question of four vacancies which have occurred on the Sessional Committee of Selection.

2. The Committee has made the following nominations:—

(a) Committee of Public Accounts— Deputies McGoldrick, Nally and Hughes; and

(b) Committee on Procedure and Privileges—Deputy Magennis.

3. The Committee of Selection is of opinion that its quorum is at present too large and asks the Dáil to fix it at five. The Dáil should also fill up the four vacancies on the Committee.

Question—"That the Dáil agree with the Committee's report"—put and agreed to.

Mr. DOLAN

I beg to propose: "That the names of Deputies Magennis, O'Sullivan, Nolan, and Richard O'Connell be added to the Committee of Selection, and that the quorum of the Committee be fixed at five instead of seven as formerly."

Major COOPER

May I point out that the four Deputies nominated belong to the Government Party. The Independent members, owing, perhaps. to their lack of organisation, have only one representative on the Committee of Selection, and that Deputy unfortunately very seldom attends the Dáil now as he has other professional duties to keep him away. In filling the vacancies I think the Independent members should be entitled to at least one representative.

Mr. HUGHES

The Committee on Procedure laid it down when these nominations were made in the first instance that every party in the Dáil should get representation according to its numbers. The party Deputy Cooper speaks for got representation, and it is not the fault of the Committee if that member does not attend. If the Deputies forming the group for which Deputy Major Cooper speaks wish to have some one else nominated in place of the member originally selected, the Committee I believe would be agreeable. With regard to the vacancies to fill which nominations have been made, one of the members originally selected has resigned and one has died, and they belonged to the same party. That is the reason they were selected from the party, and for no other reason, and not to score any party advantage. The procedure was followed that was agreed to twelve months ago by the Dáil.

Major COOPER

I would like to contradict Deputy Hughes. The Independents did not get representation according to their numbers. The elections for these came very early, and we were required to propose a second. The various Deputies hardly knew each other, and it was only accidentally that I met Deputy Séamus Cosgrave, and that Deputy Redmond's name went forward for selection. The result was that we got less than our strength.

Mr. HUGHES

I am sorry the Deputy did not know the members of his party. It was not our fault.

Mr. GOREY

Does Deputy Cooper know the members of his party now? How many are following Deputy Cooper?

Mr. HEWAT

Does Deputy Hughes think that the importance of the Independent Party is sufficiently acknowledged by one member on the Committee of Selection?

Mr. GOREY

Is there an Independent Party?

Mr. HEWAT

Yes.

Mr. GOREY

As far as I know they are all independent of each other.

Mr. HUGHES

If the Independent Party think they have any grievance in the matter, if they put that grievance before the Committee I am sure they will give it every consideration. If they think they are entitled to another member I am sure one of our party will be willing to retire.

Motion put and agreed to.