Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 1924

Vol. 2 No. 15

R.I.C. PENSIONS ORDER, 1924.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

The following letter has been received from the Minister for Finance:—

By direction of the Minister for Finance, I send herewith three copies of the Royal Irish Constabulary Pensions Order of 1924, made by the Minister for Finance in pursuance of Section 5 (I.) of the Superannuation and Pensions Act, 1923.

I am to call attention to the provisions of Sub-Section 2 of the above Section, which enacts:—"No Order made under this Section shall come into operation unless and until it has been laid before each House of the Oireachtas and approved by resolution of the Dáil, and when considering any such resolution the Dáil shall duly consider any recommendation which shall have been previously made by the Seanad in respect of such Order."

In other words, that letter comes to this: that any Order under that R.I.C. Pensions Order, made under the Superannuation and Pensions Act, 1923, has to be laid on the table of each House. It was laid on the Table of this House on the 15th of this month, and, thereafter, if any recommendation is to be made to the Dáil before they pass a resolution approving of it, that recommendation should be made pretty soon, because the Orders only lie on the Table of this House for three weeks. They are already there since the 15th. Therefore, if any Senator wishes this Seanad should consider a recommendation to the Dáil before they pass a resolution confirming it, it is as well he should know the time is running out.

Mr. H.S. GUINNESS

Does laying on the Table of the House technically mean laying on the table of the Anteroom? That table is now covered with papers and documents, and important matters of this description might get out of place.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

We are carrying on under great difficulties, both here and in the Dáil owing to the lack of suitable accommodation. Strictly speaking, had we the accommodation for it, there should be a table extending on the floor of the House on which these documents would be laid. That is the proper place for them. But owing to the restrictions under which we are attempting to carry on, pending proper and suitable accommodation, we have resorted to the plan of having them laid upon the table of the Reading Room. The Senator is quite right in calling attention to it, because in strictness they should be upon a table on the floor of the House.