I move:—
That the Bill be received for final consideration.
Private Business. - Galway Harbour Bill, 1933.—Report.
I second.
I had an intimation that the Chair proposed to rule out of order certain amendments in my name which have been put down to this Bill. I think there is a considerable national principle involved, and I would like, with the permission of the House, to move that consideration of the Report Stage be adjourned for a fortnight so that I may have an opportunity of ascertaining in detail the grounds upon which these amendments have been ruled out of order and of seeing whether it would not be possible to devise other amendments which would be in order, thereby securing some recognition for the position of the Irish language in a city like Galway, the only urban area in the country which it is possible, within any reasonable period of time, to make wholly Irish speaking.
Cuidighim leis sin.
I desire to support the suggestion that has been made by Senator Blythe. With regard to some of the amendments that have been tabled by the Senator, I do not know precisely what the legal position may be. I think it would be desirable to have some of the suggestions made in these amendments embodied in the final draft of the Bill. On the other hand, obviously some of the amendments would be quite impracticable to work out. They might operate unfairly as regards the administrative work of the Galway harbour authorities, but at the same time it may be possible to get accommodation on those that are practicable and to have them embodied in the Bill. I support the suggestion to adjourn the Report Stage of the Bill for a week to see if accommodation can be got between Senator Blythe and the Joint Committee that was set up to consider this Bill.
Leas-Chathaoirleach
As a request has been made for an adjournment in the case of this Private Bill, I think that can be taken in the nature of an objection. That being so, there will be an adjournment as a matter of course. But so far as the amendments are concerned, I caused an intimation to be sent to Senator Blythe last evening that, as a matter of judgment and quite apart altogether from my own feelings on the question, I might have to rule some of them out of order. Up to the present I have made no final ruling so that it is open to Senators during the adjournment period to consider what form of amendment will come within the objects of this measure. That is the only question that I have to consider, and I have to consider it as a matter of law: a matter of construction, as to what form of amendment comes within the title of this Bill which is:
"An Act to reconstitute the Galway Harbour Commissioners on a more representative basis and to continue their incorporation and to confer powers on them (including borrowing powers) for the care and preservation, improvement and development of the port and harbour of Galway, and to provide for the execution therein of certain works, and to provide for special contributions from and the making of certain rates by the County Council of the County of Galway and the Galway Urban District Council, and for other purposes connected with the foregoing matters."
Now, that title has been passed, and the preamble has been proved that it is expedient that these powers should be conferred. If there are any amendments dealing with the Irish language which can be shown to come within that title, or to be in conformity with the matters which have been proved in the Committee to be expedient, of course I will have the greatest pleasure in accepting them. Indeed, I decided to accept amendment No. 6 which provides that the by-laws shall be printed in Irish and in English. I have made no decision up to the present as regards the other amendments tabled by Senator Blythe, but I caused intimation to be sent to him last night that I might have, in the exercise of my judgment, to rule them out. As I have said, I have given no decision and, therefore, it is open to any Senator to propose any alterations that he considers would meet, on the one hand, our natural desire to have the Irish language encouraged in what is really the capital of the Gaeltacht, and, on the other, the rules of procedure in a case like this.
With regard to these amendments, I would venture to suggest that it is the wish of practically every member of the House that they would be accepted, having regard to the locality in question. As we all know, Galway is the cradle of the Gaeltacht, and, therefore, the matter is a very important one from that point of view. There is the other question which may be pressing very much on you, Sir, as the Chairman of the Joint Committee, namely, whether it is outside the preamble to accept those amendments in the form in which they have been framed by Senator Blythe.
Leas-Chathaoirleach
That is the sole question for me. It is not a question on the merits at all.
And that is why I crave your indulgence to say a few words on this.
On a point of order. There is a motion before the House to adjourn the Report Stage of this Bill. Therefore, what is the necessity of discussing Senator Blythe's amendments now? Had we not better wait until they come before us in proper order?
Question—"That the Report Stage of the Bill be adjourned for a fortnight"—put and agreed to.