Vol. 14 No. 2
On behalf of Senator Milroy I move:—
That the Seanad hereby approves of the Gárda Síochána Pensions Order, 1930, made on the 30th day of June, 1930 by the Minister for Justice with the sanction of the Minister for Finance under Section 13 of the Police Forces Amalgamation Act, 1925 and laid before the Seanad on the 19th day of November, 1930.
I second.
I think this is another matter that should be postponed. A motion of this kind should not be taken without someone explaining the reason for this Order. Perhaps the mover will explain it?
Can you give any explanation, Senator O'Rourke?
I am moving it on behalf of Senator Milroy. Personally I am not able to explain it.
I think this is getting beyond the humorous stage. To-day the Minister was not present. What one might call the leader of the Government Party in this House is not now present. We find a Senator in the Farmers' Party defending the Minister and another Government supporter apologising for the absence of the mover of an important motion. The Senator admits that he knows nothing about it. If one day's proceedings more than another has utterly condemned this House as being an unjustifiable expense on the State to-day's business has done it. I feel that there is not one Senator who can hold up his head with any dignity and say that he is justifying his existence as a statesman. We have been condemned and criticised for arguing for the abolition of this House. The Government itself and Senators belonging to the Government Party have done more to condemn this House as being unnecessary than anybody outside it.
I think it would be well, as Senator Johnson wishes, that we should have some explanation of this Order, which has been on the Agenda since the 19th of November. If the House desires it might adjourn the matter until the next meeting.
I wish to join quite seriously in the remarks made by Senator Connolly. It has been stated frequently in this House that, as a matter of general policy, there ought to be an official representative of the Ministry here who would be able to speak on their behalf with responsibility. That proposal has never been given heed to. To-day we have five items on the Order Paper. One deals with private business, a purely formal matter. Another deals with the Currency Amendment Bill. As it happens, the whole tenor of the original Bill sent here by the Government has been altered. On the other matters of considerable importance which ought to have been discussed by the House, and as to which somebody ought to be able to speak the Ministerial mind, we are left entirely without guidance or assistance. I think the Seanad would be justified in making a strong protest against the unsatisfactory way in which the House has been treated by the Ministry on this occasion and on other occasions. There are matters here in which three different Ministries are affected, and in none of them is it possible to proceed because of the absence of any spokesman for the Ministers. The motion made by Senator O'Rourke ought to be explained. There is some reason for it, and the Ministry ought to be able to state the reason. I move that the discussion be adjourned.
I second.
Adjournment of debate agreed to.
The House adjourned at 5.5 p.m. until Wednesday, December 3rd, 1930.
