asked the Taoiseach the number of Government-appointed Commissions at present functioning, the respective dates of their appointment and the terms of reference to each such Commission.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Government Appointed Commissions.
1.
Two Commissions appointed by the Government are functioning at present, namely the Irish Manuscripts Commission appointed on the 10th October, 1928, and the Commission on the Restoration of the Irish Language appointed on the 15th July, 1958.
With your permission, Sir, I propose to include in the Official Report a statement setting out the terms of reference of the Commissions.
Following is the statement:—
TERMS OF REFERENCE.
(a) Irish Manuscripts Commission.
1. To report on the nature, extent and importance of existing collections of manuscripts and papers of literary, historical and general interest relating to Ireland, and on the places in which such manuscripts and papers are deposited and to advise as to the steps which should be taken for the preservation and publication of such manuscripts and papers whether in public collections or in private ownership and for the collection of any such manuscripts and papers as may be in danger of being lost or obliterated.
2. To prepare, after such consultation with University authorities and other learned bodies as the Commission may deem desirable, and submit from time to time, for approval, to the Minister for Education, and, subject to such approval, to arrange for and supervise the execution of programmes of work to be undertaken in
(a) the preparation and publication of calendars and catalogues of such manuscripts and papers,
(b) the editing and publication of hitherto unpublished texts in Old Irish, Middle Irish and Modern (other than contemporary) Irish and of other hitherto unpublished manuscripts relating to Ireland, due regard being had to their relative linguistic, literary and historical importance,
(c) the publication of photographic facsimiles of important codices, in particular of those in the possession of institutions or individuals outside Saorstát Éireann,
(d) the revision and republication of important works already published but now out of print or difficult of access.
(b) Commission on the Restoration of the Irish Language.
Having regard to the position at present reached in the endeavour to secure the restoration of the Irish language, to consider and to advise as to the steps that should now be taken by the community and the State to hasten progress towards that end.
May I take it, therefore, that Commissions appointed by members of the Government are not included in that?
That is right.
I did not quite understand the Supplementary to the question asked by Deputy Norton. What is the difference between a Commission appointed by the Government and a Commission appointed by members of the Government?
The Deputy asked——
There is a conscious difference between the two categories?
Yes.
Could the Taoiseach give an instance of a Commission appointed by a member of the Government which is not a Commission appointed by the Government?
The Deputy would have to give me notice of that question.
There are two different categories?
There are. I think the Deputy may be thinking of the case of a Committee of Inquiry rather than a Government Commission.