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Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 May 1925

Vol. 5 No. 3

LOCAL AUTHORITIES (COMBINED PURCHASING) BILL. - THE CHAMBER—DIFFICULTY OF HEARING.

Before we adjourn, I should like to ask whether it is intended that we are to remain in this place permanently. It is impossible to hear, in many parts of the room, what is being said.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

Perhaps the Senator would suspend his judgment for a while. The Chamber is not yet fully furnished. It is not proposed that the seating accommodation should remain as it is. Perhaps, not at our next meeting, but certainly by the end of the month, proper chairs will be ready, and the room will be curtained.

I raise no objection at all to the seating accommodation. It is of the acoustic properties that I am complaining.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

When we have chairs for each Senator and a completion of the curtain arrangements, it may possibly affect the acoustic properties.

The improved effect will have to be very considerable, because at this end of the room at present it is impossible to hear.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

We are going to try what the effect of placing the Chairman's chair at the opposite side of the room and turning the seats round would be.

From the very nature of the Chamber the voice does not travel so as to be heard at the opposite ends of the room. We heard very much better in the old Chamber.

Is there any very great objection to changing into the room downstairs? I am told the hearing is very good there. This could be used as the reading room. I mentioned the matter to one or two other Senators and I do not see any great objection to the change.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

It is a suggestion well worthy of consideration. I do not know whether any attempt has been made to test the acoustic properties of the room below.

I think a mistake was made in coming here long before the room was completed and before we could have had an opportunity of forming an opinion as to the suitability of the room when fully furnished and completed by the Board of Works. I am inclined to think when the chairs, carpets and curtains are laid down and the room completed, we will find the acoustic properties improved. If not, then we can try the room downstairs temporarily for one meeting without any change of furniture. If that was satisfactory, then we could have the whole thing changed or go elsewhere. I think we had better wait until the Board of Works have had the room completed, and I take it that everything will be done to hasten its completion.

I am sorry that Senator the Earl of Wicklow is not here, as he was a member of the Committee that discussed the question of our accommodation. It seems to me that it would be a pity to incur a considerable amount of further expenditure without knowing what the result is likely to be. There were several suggestions made, and amongst them one which emanated from An Cathaoirleach, and that is that the chair should be placed within the windows at the end of the room after taking away the distinguished strangers' gallery. Then the seating accommodation could be arranged so that Senators would be facing one another as they were in the old Chamber, and the hearing would be very much improved, because instead of Senators sitting at different ends of the room trying to hear, we would be facing one another, which would be a much better arrangement.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

That is to arrange matters as they were in the old Chamber.

Yes, with the chair between the windows at the end of the room. I think that suggestion emanated from yourself, and such an arrangement would greatly improve the acoustic properties. We were asked, however, not to do anything during the absence of An Ceann Comhairle. In the meantime we will be in a position to carry out the suggestion made by Senator Douglas.

I have some experience of rooms of this description, and I do not know any room with a roof such as this in which the acoustic properties are satisfactory. I feel no matter what you do to this room you will not improve the hearing. I regret it, because it is a very beautiful room, but the formation of the ceiling is against you.

If the Seanad authorise the change I suggest before the next meeting it could be done without expense.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

We could lay out the room in the way suggested without any trouble, but I am greatly afraid it would not make much difference. There is the advantage, of course, that Senators would be facing one another, and the hearing in that way might be improved.

I think it is generally admitted that an arched ceiling has something to say to the acoustic properties, and I think we should try the effect of a sitting in the room downstairs. It would only mean changing down the furniture and it would not mean much disorganisation. The room downstairs has a flat ceiling and we would be able to judge the difference.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

We would be able to ascertain whether it is the fault of the ceiling or the arrangement of the seating in this room.

I hope the Press also will be considered. They are at a greater disadvantage than Senators. They are in a very bad position.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

I have not personally heard any complaint from the Press. I would be very glad, if they had a complaint to make, that they would put it in writing and send it to me because I am very anxious to accommodate them in any way, but I have received no suggestion of any kind as to any inconvenience or difficulty experienced by them in reporting. If inconvenience be found by them I should be very glad if they would communicate with me on the matter.

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