I move for leave to introduce a Bill entitled "an Act to amend the Constitution by increasing the maximum membership of the Executive Council from seven to twelve members."
CONSTITUTION (AMENDMENT No. 5) BILL, 1926—FIRST STAGE.
I suggest that Deputies are entitled to have an extract from the report dealing with this particular Bill or recommendation. As Deputies are aware, the Dáil discussed the question of Extern Ministers when the Constitution was under consideration. Therefore, in my opinion, the House as a whole is at least entitled to an extract from the report dealing with this particular Bill, even if the rest of it must be kept secret, giving the reasons why this change is suggested.
All this will arise later. What I am suggesting now is that on these four Bills we should make an order referring them to a Select Committee, and that on the next day the House meets the President should introduce a motion dealing with that Select Committee: fixing it in accordance with the Standing Order as regards numbers, quorum and so on. I think on that motion Deputy Davin would be in a much better position than he is at the moment to raise his point.
Leave was given, and it was ordered that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee.