Before the Seanad begins its operations I would like to direct attention to a matter which might seem small, but, in the efficient discharge of our duties, is really a very important matter. I allude to the delivery of official communications from the Seanad in connection with Seanad business. I have here the preliminary programme for our proceedings to-day. It is one of the type-written documents which are issued to acquaint Senators of what the business is likely to be at their next meeting, and it generally reaches them before the regular programme gets into their hands. This is a rearranged programme for our proceedings to-day. I received it this morning at the same time as I got the printed agenda. I notice, from the postmark on this document, that it was posted at 1 p.m. on June 27th. It did not reach my hands until this morning.
I make no complaint against the Seanad officials, because obviously from the postmark on the letter the fault could not be attributable to them. This document must have been posted on the evening of the 27th June, and it did not reach my office, which is only a street off, until this morning. It was not delivered to my office till last night, as I was there until seven o'clock. That is not conducive to the efficient discharge of our public duties. If these notes cannot be delivered in Dublin until four days after posting it is rather a large order. Somebody should be responsible for their proper delivery. I suggest that the matter might be inquired into with a view to obviating future accidents of the kind. This, I may say, is only the last example of a long series of delayed messages from this House. In days gone by, when I used to attend in another place where documents were very voluminous, these documents used be delivered in London by hand, and you got them the next morning. Surely the people responsible for the delivery of these documents could deliver them straight off without taking four days to do it. I submit the document to you, sir, and I hope that such an incident will not again occur.
