Before we dispose of the Financial Bills that are on the Orders of the Day it is right that I should say in justification of the members of the Press, who are rather concerned in the matter, that in reference to the incident that occurred this afternoon I have received a communication from the Chairman and Honorary Secretary of their Association to say: "We desire to state explicitly and at once that no permission was given by our body to any person to occupy seats in the Press Gallery either to-day or at any other time." In further connection with that incident may I say that I have since ascertained that the facts are these: One of the officers of the Seanad, I being otherwise engaged, spoke to my colleague, the Deputy-Chairman, and obtained from him orders for admission of the two gentlemen concerned. It was then ascertained that it was important that they should be in touch with those whom they were instructing, and accordingly the gentlemen of the Press saying that they would not interfere with them, and would not inconvenience them, these two gentlemen were accommodated with two seats there. Had I known at the time that my colleague had given permission to these two gentlemen to be admitted into the precincts of the House I would have accepted full responsibility for the matter, and do so now.
LAND BILL. - SEANAD RESUMES.
