That postpones for the present any question of an election to fill the place of Sir Horace Plunkett, but there remains the fixing of a date for the election to the vacancy occasioned by the death of Senator McPartlin. Under existing Standing Orders you will find it provided under Order 105 that the first thing to do is to fix the date. Shall we say the sitting of the Seanad first taking place after next week? Seven days are given within which candidates may be proposed and seconded after the date is fixed. If you fix it for a fortnight hence, say this day fortnight, seven days will be allowed for the proposing and seconding of candidates, and the election can take place this day fortnight, assuming the Seanad meets, or the first day afterwards.
VACANCY IN SEANAD.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
Would it be convenient to arrange that the two elections should go on at the same time?
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
We cannot do that at present as we have only one vacancy.
I think canvassing is very objectionable and should be stopped. There is an immense amount of canvassing going on, and, to my mind, any person who canvasses for election should be eliminated.
The EARL OF MAYO
Here is a document which I received canvassing for a certain gentleman. It is from the Ship Canal Portland Cement Manufacturers. I object most strongly to that, and I hope other members also object to this sort of thing.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I think it is the first occasion on which anything of the kind has been attempted, and I hope it will be the last. It might be better if it could be arranged to adopt the arrangement suggested by Senator Moore and have the two vacancies filled on the same day. The difficulty is that at present there is only one vacancy, and until we ascertain Sir Horace Plunkett's decision we cannot make arrangements for filling his vacancy. Under Standing Orders we have to proceed to fill the vacancy that has occurred, and the only question is whether this day fortnight would be considered too soon, or convenient.
I think that if the vacancies occurred separately they should be filled separately. I think that this day fortnight, or the first meeting after that day gives reasonable time for the election, and I beg to propose a resolution to that effect.
I beg to second.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
The motion is: "That the election for the vacancy occasioned by the death of Senator McPartlin be held on this day fortnight, or the next meeting after that day."