We have now gone through this resolution in Committee. I should like to ask the President if he considers it absolutely necessary to pass it finally now, or whether he will consider between now and the next sitting the constitutional point I raised and have the advice of the Attorney-General on it? That will not, I think, mean any delay.
DAIL IN COMMITTEE. - DAIL RESUMES.
Resolution, as amended, reported.
Is that the one we had the division on?
No, but the point I raised about the desirability of giving the returning officer the final decision on the question of citizenship.
I would be quite agreeable not to ask to have this matter passed now.
When will the Report be taken?
I should say on Thursday. As we are on this matter, I might say that I have been considering the dates which might be suitable for the completion of the panel and the date of the election. So far the dates that appear to be most suitable are the 17th August for the completion of the panel, and the 17th September for the election. That would be, of course, subject to the passing of the two Bills into law.
Has the President considered all the implications of a September election? I understand that in many parts of the country that is the time of the year when the people in agricultural districts are not very eager to leave their harvesting operations. I understood that the idea of an October election would be more favourably considered.
It has this serious drawback: summer-time expires on the 20th September, and any experience that has been gained in elections points to the fact that elections ought to be held whenever there is a maximum amount of daylight. The date I have suggested is about the latest date, close to the expiry of summer-time, that we could fix. I think that, as distinct from the disadvantages that there may be in regard to the time Deputy Johnson suggests, we would get advantages in the other case.
Has any consideration been given to the fact that Deputies' holidays might not coincide with the elections? There might be some disadvantage in that respect.
Ordered that the Report be taken on Thursday, 25th June.