This Bill is a very short and simple one. Its whole purpose is to delete certain restricting phrases in Article 3 of the Constitution. It was questioned in the Dáil whether these words which it is proposed to delete did, in fact, have the limiting effect, which we wish to remove. Although the question was raised, I do not think there was anything like acceptance of that point of view. In any case, supposing it was true that it could be held with a good deal of force that there was no such restriction or intention in the Article as a whole, nevertheless, for safety, where there is a doubt, we ought to clear it up. My own view and that of my advisers is that limitation did exist in the phrase, and in order to make the position clear it is necessary that that limitation should be removed. The limitation consists of the words "within the limits of the jurisdiction of the Irish Free State (Saorstát Eireann)." The point is to remove this limiting phrase and to make it quite clear that our citizenship law has a wider domain than that.
Public Business. - Constitution (Amendment No. 26) Bill, 1934—Second Stage.
Question proposed: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."
Minister for External Affairs (the President)
Question put and agreed to.
Committee Stage ordered for Wednesday, 27th March.
My intention is to try to get these three Bills so arranged that they will become law at the one time. If there should be an amendment to any of them then we would take the Bills and the amendment to the Dáil at the same time.