Vol. 77 No. 1
I move:
That Dáil Éireann hereby resolves, pursuant to sub-section 3º of section 3 of Article 28 of the Constitution, that, arising out of the armed conflict now taking place in Europe, a national emergency exists affecting the vital interests of the State.
I do not think it is necessary for me to add anything to what I have already said. I think it is evident to everybody that the circumstances contemplated by the amendment of the Article of the Constitution do, in fact, exist.
There falls to be said that the more discussion and explanation by responsible Ministers we can have of the purposes for which the several powers are required, the more the public mind will be prepared for the steps that it may be necessary to take in an emergency. I trust that the Government will appreciate the fact that a careful review of each of these provisions is designed not only to elicit information for ourselves, but to communicate to the public the purpose of the regulations, how they are intended to be used and the necessity for them and the necessity, where that arises, of bearing inconvenience gladly, if the national interest requires individual citizens to do so.
Is the motion declaring a state of emergency or the Emergency Powers Bill before us?
The resolution declaring a state of emergency.
I am sorry. Sir; I thought we were discussing the Bill.
