Vol. 191 No. 9
I move:
That a sum not exceeding £6,930 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1962, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Secretary to the President, and for certain other expenses of the President's Establishment (No. 24 of 1938) including a Grant-in-Aid.
This House votes certain moneys for the President's Establishment and, presumably, the President can do as he wishes with that money. I have a suggestion to make with regard to the bounty of £5 which the President presents to centenarians. There are not many such in this country. Many years ago, the figure was set at £5. Today the bounty should be at least £20 to £25. I suggest that the Minister for Finance should indicate to the President——
The President does not pay this at all.
Who pays it?
The Minister for Finance under Vote 19. All the President does is to wish them luck. The Minister for Finance pays the money.
If that is so, then the President is getting credit for generosity and he is not really entitled to that credit. I shall raise the matter again on Vote 19.
I protested before, and I protest again now, on this Estimate for the President's Establishment that this office is not a democratic office. It is confined to two or three people. The Constitution states that a person who wishes to have himself nominated must be nominated by 20 members of the Oireachtas. No man can get those nominations, unless he is sponsored by either the Government Party or the main Opposition Party. Likewise, the Constitution states that a person may be nominated by four county councils. All county councils are dominated by the two main political Parties. Two-thirds of the membership of every county council is constituted of members of the Government and the Opposition and these groups will not allow anyone to be nominated against their own nominees.
The Deputy is not in order in pursuing that matter on this Vote.
We are voting money here and I want to protest that this is not a democratic office. It is confined to two or three people.
The manner of appointing the President is laid down in the Constitution.
I know it is, but it is not democratic.
The Deputy is not in order.
I may not be in order, but I will still make my protest.
The Deputy will please resume his seat.
I protest against our subscribing large sums of money for two or three people.
I have explained to the Deputy that that matter does not arise.
I know, Sir.
The Deputy will please resume his seat.
It is all fixed up by the Constitution — I know that — but it is not democratic.
Surely the political Parties are democratic Parties? They are a voluntary association of people.
There is nothing wrong in that.
Only two or three people can be nominated.
