I would like to mention a matter that I want Senators to turn over in their minds; I do not want them to arrive at any conclusion about it to-day or to-morrow, but it is a matter that we will have to consider carefully in the very near future. I refer to the fact that at the end of the year there will be an election; a number of Senators will be retired automatically, and there will be an election to fill the vacancies. No machinery, as far as I can make out, is provided anywhere for the purpose of this election; that is to say, no machinery of a direct and practical kind. We have no provisions as to the period when the election takes place; we have no provision as to the obligation for serving preliminary notices, and matters of that kind. The provisions that are in the Constitution in reference to the method by which these vacancies are to be filled are very complicated, and all these matters require careful consideration. I have conferred on this with Senator Douglas, and the idea that occurred to me was that we might, later on, formulate a request to the other House to form a Joint Committee to deal with the matter, but on thinking it over, I considered that as it relates so much, and to a large extent exclusively, to this House, we ought, in the first instance, to appoint a Committee of our own to consider the matter. It may then turn out that there are certain points on which we will require the collaboration and co-operation of the other House, because the other House has a voice in the determination of the panel of candidates to be submitted to the electors. They have a voice in that, but in so far as other matters to be determined concern our own domestic legislation, I think in the first instance the most desirable plan would be to appoint a committee on our own to go into the whole matter and consider it carefully. Although it is not very urgent, seeing the election will not take place until December, still the matter is so intricate and complicated that I think the sooner a committee of that kind is appointed the better it will be. I just want the House to think it over, and perhaps when we meet next week or the week after, we might consider what course we will take.
FORTHCOMING SEANAD ELECTIONS.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I take it the whole scheme of election is governed by the Constitution.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
There is practically no machinery provided, save in so far as is found within the four corners of the Constitution. There is no indication that the House will require to meet next week.
The Seanad adjourned at 4.5 p.m. until 3 p.m. on March 5.