I have been asked by Deputies from various parts of the House to suggest that we should adjourn over to-morrow. Several Deputies find that they have not had the facilities which they needed to explore all sections of the Spring Show, and, perhaps, under the circumstances, it would be wise to adjourn until Tuesday.
GÁRDA SÍOCHÁNA ALLOWANCES ORDER. - ADJOURNMENT OF THE DAIL.
I wish to support Deputy Gorey's request. The feeling is very general that Deputies who are interested in farming are missing the advantages of the Show, and I trust the President will give the request favourable consideration.
I want to demur. I think that the practice of subordinating the national legislature to even educational institutions of great value such as the Spring Show is an unwise proceeding from the point of view of the prestige of the Dáil. I think the old habit that another Parliament had of adjourning over Derby Day was very wisely abandoned, to the credit of that Parliament. We adjourned to-day and lost practically two hours. I raised no objection to that, but to continue the practice of subordinating the work of the Dáil to the convenience of members who want to attend a valuable function is very unwise. It is a habit that could very easily grow, and it is one that we should not encourage.
I suggest that if we can afford to lose a sitting on Tuesday and another on Friday, the state of public business must be such that I think it is a great hardship we should be asked to sit late on three nights in the week. I admit that great value is to be gained from a visit to the Show. For instance, the Whips of the Government Party might learn a lesson from the display of the sheep dogs in the way of getting their followers into the division lobby.
I am quite prepared to leave this question to an open vote. The case put up by Deputy Gorey is one that I find very hard to resist. It is made in respect of an industry the most important in the country. A visit to the Show is of the very greatest educational value. I certainly cannot afford to stand against this application, but I put it to Deputy Gorey and the House that we have now spent fifteen or twenty hours on two Estimates. I suggest that public business should be done with more expedition, even allowing for the fullest consideration of the Estimates. I think that in no Parliament in the world do the Estimates for public services get such a riddling as they get here. I think we should make up our minds for an early adjournment. As far as I am concerned, I am prepared to leave this question to an open vote.
I think that Deputy Johnson has put the position rather unfairly. He said that two hours had been lost to-day. That is not so. The Dáil met two hours later than usual, but there was no adjournment for tea, which meant that there was only one hour lost. When I heard the point made that this great educational institution should not be availed of by Deputies it surprised me that it should come from a quarter of the House not closely interested in agriculture.
If the Deputy does not conclude before 10.30 there can be no vote taken, and we will adjourn automatically until to-morrow.
I would like to point out that there was an adjournment over Tuesday of this week to suit the convenience not of the Dáil, but of a section of the Dáil. That is quite understandable, but again I want to point out that this habit we are developing of subordinating the national legislature and its business to anything less important, is a bad thing.
I will now put Deputy Gorey's motion that the Dáil adjourn until Tuesday next.
As an amendment, I beg to move——
I will take no amendment, as it is too late.
The motion has only now been put, and I could not have moved an amendment earlier.
The motion will now be put, and it will be for the House to determine whether we are to adjourn till Tuesday or not. If we do not adjourn until Tuesday, we adjourn automatically, according to Standing Orders, until to-morrow— that is if the motion is defeated. I now put the question, that the Dáil adjourn until Tuesday next, at 3 o'clock.
Motion put.
The Dáil divided: Tá, 36; Níl, 16.
Tá.
- Seoirse de Bhulbh.
- Próinsias Bulfin.
- Séamus de Búrca.
- John Conlan.
- Máighréad Ní Choileáin Bean Uí Dhrisceóil.
- James Dwyer.
- Patrick J. Egan.
- John Good.
- Thomas Hennessy.
- Connor Hogan.
- Donnchadh Mac Con Uladh.
- Liam Mac Cosgair.
- Séamus Mac Cosgair.
- Seán Mac Curtain.
- Patrick McGilligan.
- Risteárd Mac Liam.
- Liam Mac Sioghaird.
- Pádraig Mag Ualghairg.
- Peadar O hAodha.
- Mícheál O hAonghusa.
- Seán O Bruadair.
- Parthalán O Conchubhair.
- Conchubhar O Conghaile. Séamus O Dóláin.
- Tadhg O Donnabháin.
- Mícheál O Dubhghaill.
- Eamon O Dúgáin.
- Seán O Duinnín.
- Donnchadh O Guaire.
- Aindriú O Láimhín.
- Séamus O Leadáin.
- Fionán O Loingsigh.
- Domhnall O Mocháin.
- Máirtín O Rodaigh.
- Seán Príomhdhall.
- Patrick W. Shaw.
Níl.
- Bryan R. Cooper.
- Séamus Eabhróid.
- Osmond Grattan Esmonde.
- Seosamh Mac a' Bhrighde.
- Tomás Mac Eoin.
- Seoirse Mac Niocaill.
- Liam Mag Aonghusa.
- William Norton.
- Tomás O Conaill.
- Eoghan O Dochartaigh.
- Eamon O Dubhghaill.
- Pádraig O Dubhthaigh.
- Domhnall O Muirgheasa.
- Tadhg O Murchadha.
- Pádraig O hOgáin (An Clár).
- Seán O Raghallaigh.
Tellers:—Tá: Deputies Gorey and T. Hennessy. Níl: Deputies Morrissey and T. O'Connell.
Motion declared carried.
In future, whenever a motion is going to be proposed that the Dáil adjourn for longer than the usual period, it should, if possible, be proposed more than five minutes before the time for the ordinary adjournment.