asked the Minister for External Affairs whether Bunreacht na hÉireann was deposited and registered with the Secretariat of the League of Nations, and, if so, on what date, and whether, arising out of its enactment, he expressed to the Secretariat of the League any opinion as to whether it modifies the operations of previous instruments registered by the League on the initiative of the former Executive Council of Saorstát Eireann.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bunreacht na hÉireann.
Article 18 of the Covenant of the League of Nations relates only to the registration of treaties and other international engagements. There is no provision in the Covenant for the registration of Constitutions. Accordingly, Bunreacht na hÉireann was not deposited or registered with the Secretariat of the League.
In these circumstances, no occasion arose for any communication to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations in the matter.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, will he say whether it was thought necessary to intimate to the Secretariat of the League of Nations that the enactment of the new Constitution in any way interfered with the obligations which were imposed upon us by the Treaty which was previously registered by the League?
I did not quite get the first part of the question.
I want to know whether it was thought desirable to intimate to the Secretariat of the League of Nations that the enactment of the new Constitution in any way interfered with the obligations which were imposed upon us by the Treaty which was previously registered by the League?
That raises an entirely new question, a different question altogether from that which the Deputy has down.
It is very important.
But it is a different question.
Deputy Norton will have to wait until some one comes home from Rome.