Skip to main content
Normal View

Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Dec 1923

Vol. 2 No. 9

SEANAD IN COMMITTEE. - LIBRARY FACILITIES.

I beg to move:

"That the Seanad respectfully requests the Government to provide library facilities for the use of the Members of the Seanad."

I will be very brief in moving this motion. We are suffering great disabilities at present in the matter of papers and documents issued for publication. A large number of important measures are forecasted for consideration, and in no case is it possible, except at great physical labour, to get hold of even the most ordinary Government reports. In one or two cases I have been obliged by an official—some Civil Servant— whom I happen to know, and who has lent me documents, but in doing so always made me promise to bring them back in good time. That is not a desirable state of things, and, as a permanent home seems a long way off, I suggest that the Government should provide some sort of facilities, if only temporary, whereby members could consult publications, and generally look up references on subjects for legislation. I understand that a Librarian has been appointed and, if I might suggest, there is a library very near. At present there are difficulties in getting into it, because you must have a pass from an individual Minister before you can go and read there. If that was made easier, and, possibly, if the Librarian appointed, who, I understand, is a highly qualified person, was placed at the disposal of members who wanted his assistance, they would probably find most of the references, papers, documents and books that they want in the National Library. I agree that might not do as a permanent arrangement, but, in the meantime, if we are to do our business in a proper way, and not be placed in such very great difficulty in having access to papers, we should adopt some such course.

I desire to support the motion of Senator Sir John Keane. I think that the vacuity of intellect of some members of the assembly suggested by Senator O'Farrell a while ago would be bound to benefit by such an arrangement.

I would like also to support the resolution. If it were possible to have the National Library open to members of the Seanad and Dáil it would be very great convenience to all.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

Perhaps, before the President speaks, I might put in a plea, and say that the time is getting very nearly ripe when we should have better accommodation. The members of the Seanad have put up with very great inconvenience. They have few facilities for consultation of any sort or kind, few opportunities of consulting books, and very few ordinary comforts. The accommodation for the Chairman is of a character which could hardly be described as sumptuous, and the accommodation for the public and the Press is very scanty and very meagre. We have put up with it for over a year, but I think the time has come when something ought to be done to place us in a better and more improved condition.

The question of more suitable accommodation for the Oireachtas is a matter that I have had under consideration for some time, and I expect early in the new year to put forward proposals. A Committee was appointed to go into the matter, and I do not think that their report upon it will entitle them to any monuments in the future. We are here practically on sufferance of the people who accommodated us. We have overstayed our welcome, I think. That is a matter which we will have to take into account when considering the recommendations we are to make. We will have to look into the question of making the National Library available. We hope to be able to say something on that on the next occasion. We have also considered the question of a Library for the two Houses, but owing to the limited accommodation here we had no place to put it, and it is at present housed in another building. With regard to the accommodation of An Cathaoirleach, I know he has shown remarkable patience, and I suppose, in an assembly like this, that it is right and fit that An Cathaoirleach should lend the benefit of his example to other Senators in that connection. I hope we have not taxed his patience too much, and that when proposals will come up we will be able to provide him with suitable accommodation.

Further consideration of motion deferred.

Top
Share