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.