Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Nov 1981

Vol. 331 No. 2

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 5, 11, 12, 2, 13, 14 and 6. Private Members' Business, No. 21 (resumed), will be taken between 7 p.m. and 8.30 p.m.

I move:

That the Ceann Comhairle direct the Clerk of the Dáil to issue his Writ for the election of a member to fill the vacancy which has occurred in the membership of the present Dáil consequent on the death of Deputy Kieran Doherty, a member for the Constituency of Cavan-Monaghan.

I am doing this on the basis that I was supported by——

According to Standing Order No. 48, no Member shall reopen a discussion on a question already discussed during the preceding six months. According to the Standing Order the motion for the issue of the writ may not be moved again until six months from the date on which it was originally moved.

I understood that the six months rule did not apply to a representative in this House of the constituency concerned. I understood the rule covered such things as the putting down of questions and other business of that kind but not the very rare occasions on which Dáil vacancies occur and writs have to be moved for the filling of these vacancies. One of the chief arguments used by the Taoiseach when we moved the writ on the last occasion was that the legislation to introduce the payment of £9.60 per week to housewives would occupy a long period between then and Christmas. That now is not to be brought to the House before Christmas and consequently the main reason offered by the Taoiseach on the last occasion for not allowing the writ to be moved has been removed.

I would bring to the Deputy's attention that in regard to the six months rule a precedent was created by a very experienced predecessor of mine, the late Deputy Hogan, when he allowed a writ to be moved again after two-and-a-half months, I think for a Cork by-election. Whatever I may decide after two-and-a-half months, I could not allow the motion to be moved within a shorter period. The Deputy will remember that the motion for the issue of this writ was moved on 21 October.

I accept the ruling of the Chair and I understand your dilemma. If two-and-a-half months is your precedent it should not preclude the present occupant of the Chair from making it five weeks. I accept the ruling but I have a feeling that, due to the attention — and we are flattered by it — being paid to our constituency by members of the Government, perhaps the Government will accept the motion now without any further ado.

I am not allowing it to be moved now.

Top
Share