I have no precedent for introducing a Bill in this House, and therefore I am not quite clear as to what I have to say in asking the Seanad for leave to introduce the Bill.
SEANAD IN COMMITTEE. - NATIONAL HOLIDAYS BILL.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I think the practice that prevails is to very shortly state what the purpose of the Bill is.
The Bill is described as "The National Holidays Bill," and the provisions of it are not very drastic. It is proposed to do away with the anomaly which exists in Ireland by reason of the fact that there are two sets of holidays kept in the country. In the country places and everywhere in Ireland, except in the large cities, Church holidays are kept. It is only in the large cities that Bank holidays are kept. Now, this is an overwhelmingly Catholic country, and it seems to me that it would be much more suitable to this country if we were to do away with that anomaly and have those Church holidays, or one or two of them, kept instead of the Bank holidays. The idea is out to a certain extent that what I want to do is to abolish Bank holidays. I have no such idea. I do want to substitute two or three of the Church Holidays for two or three of the Bank Holidays now kept which appear to me to be not particularly suitable to this country. I do not think I need say very much more about it except this, that the object of the Bill is to provide holidays in accordance with the needs and character of the people of Saorstát Eireann. As regards the days which I propose to change, I would propose to introduce Corpus Christi, which is ten days after Whitsuntide, instead of Whit Monday; the Feast of SS. Peter and Paul, which is on the 29th June; and the Feast of the Assumption which is on the 15th August, that would be instead of the August Bank Holiday. There are various points of minor importance which, if you agree that this Bill should be introduced and printed, I can explain at greater length.
rose.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
Pardon me, Senator Yeats, on a motion of this kind there can be no debate. The simple motion before the Seanad is: "That leave be given to Senator MacLysaght to introduce his Bill." A division has to be taken on that, if called for, but there can be no debate upon it.
Does it require a seconder?
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I do not think it requires a seconder. You may put the names of any other Senators on the back of your Bill, but the motion for leave to introduce it does not require to be seconded. The motion before the Seanad is that leave be given to Senator MacLysaght to introduce the Bill of which he has given an outline, and that, as I say, cannot be debated. I shall now put it to the Seanad for a division.
Question put, and agreed to.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
The Bill will now be printed and circulated amongst the members.
On a point of order, as this is the first occasion that leave has been given to introduce a Bill, am I right in saying that that leave to introduce does not involve approval of the Bill in any way?
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
Yes; if we follow the analogy of other places. The leave to introduce a Bill in 99 cases out of 100 is given automatically. It does not pledge the Seanad in any shape, make or form to the principles or details of the Bill. It is only an act of courtesy to the member to allow him to ventilate his project, and to circulate it amongst the members of the Seanad.