Now, sir, that you have been elected unanimously by the Seanad to occupy the position of Chairman, it falls to me to propose the election of a Deputy-Chairman, and I beg to propose the name of Senator Douglas. He has helped our Chairman in many ways, and the least of his duties has been to preside at our Senate. In the late troublous times he never hesitated to go out to Glenavy at all times and at all seasons to consult with our Chairman. Those were dangerous times, and nobody knows it better than our Chairman and Senator Douglas. You have heard from our Chairman that he considers Mr. Douglas a good business man and quite capable of carrying out the duties of Deputy-Chairman.
I was present the other day at a Committee called for the purpose of deciding whether our Parliament was to enter the inter-Parliamentary Union. Senator Douglas, I am sorry to say, was the only Deputy who attended at Copenhagen. I must point out to the Seanad that this was the first time that Ireland was represented at an inter-Parliamentary Conference as a Free State. At that Committee Senator Douglas made a very interesting statement. He had a difficult task to perform, but he upheld his country with dignity and, I may say, with common-sense in every possible way. Our status as a Free State was respected by all nations assembled at Copenhagen. We have to thank, and I say it without contradiction, Senator Douglas for doing that. In conclusion, I wish to say that I thank, and I am sure every Senator will agree with me, Senator Douglas for what he has done. Our Chairman has told us that he would make a very good Deputy Chairman, and I therefore beg to move that he be re-elected to that position.