The first matter on the Order Paper is the election of the Leas-Chathaoirleach.
Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach.
I move the Motion standing in my name and that of Senator Barniville: that Senator Michael Tierney be elected Leas-Chathaoirleach. It requires very few words of mine to commend this motion to the House. Senator Tierney acted as Leas-Chathaoirleach in the previous Seanad for a period of, I think, some five years, and during that time he discharged the duties of his office efficiently, courteously, and fairly, and, I think it can be said, with satisfaction to all concerned. I have no doubt that if this motion be agreed to, he will fill the office of Leas-Chathaoirleach as satisfactorily in the future as he has in the past. I have no doubt, also, Sir, that his relations with you, as Cathaoirleach, will be as cordial and happy as they were with your predecessor in the Chair.
I need hardly say that we do not all agree with the views which Senator Tierney puts forward so vigorously, when speaking from the floor of the House here, or, perhaps, when speaking in other places, and the fact that I am proposing the Senator for this position does not necessarily mean that I agree with all the views he puts forward. That, however, does not concern us here. What does concern us is his fitness for the office of Leas-Chathaoirleach, and I think it will be agreed that Senator Tierney has all the qualifications for that office, and, in addition, he has the experience that he has gained during his occupancy of the Chair, as Leas-Chathaoirleach, during the last five years. I do not think it is necessary for me to detain the House any longer in connection with this matter, except to say that I wish to express the hope that this proposal will meet with the unanimous approval of the House.
I am glad, Sir, to know that the motion on the Order Paper, in the names of Senator O'Connell and myself, is such that it almost automatically precludes me from making a speech. However, in seconding the motion proposed by Senator O'Connell, I simply wish to say that I feel and know that the House agrees that, in his capacity as second-in-command of the control of this House, Senator Tierney has exhibited a very efficient personality. He has been efficient and loyal to this House while acting under the last very popular Cathaoirleach, and I therefore feel, and I am sure the House will agree with me, that Senator Tierney will show the same loyalty and efficiency under the present very efficient and happily-chosen Cathaoirleach, as he did under the former Cathaoirleach. I beg, formally, to second the motion proposed by Senator O'Connell.
Ar ócáid den tsórd seo is gnáthach an té atá ainmnithe don onóiremhór seo a mholadh go hárd agus, chó fada agus is féidir, féachfa mé le claoi leis an nós sin. Aontuím leis an té a mhol an rún agus leis an té a chuidigh leis, gur cumasach an duine an Seanadóir Ó Tighearnaigh, agus go bhfuil go leor eolais ar an nGaedhilg aige chun gnó an tSeanaid a stiúradh sa teangain sin nuair is gá sin.
San am chéadna, ámthach, ba mhaith liom go dtuigfí go soiléir go bhfuilim go tréan in aghaidh na dtuairimí a nocht an Seanadóir Ó Tighearnaigh faoi mhúineadh agus aithbheóchaint na Gaedhilge; agus go bhfuil cáirde na teangan ina aghaidh mar an gcéadna. Ní ceart a thuigbheáil, toisc gur toghadh an Seanadóir Ó Tighearnaigh mar Leas-Chathaoirleach, go bhfuil na Seanadóirí ar aon aigne leis faoi'n Gaedhilge.
Tá súil agam go bhfuil an méid sin sáthach soiléir anois uaim.
On occasions like the present it is a usual thing, and a well-established practice to shower praises on the recipient of a prospective honour, such as you, Sir, are about to confer to-day on Senator Tierney. I am one who admires the great ability of Senator Tierney, and I also recognise that he has a good knowledge of the Irish language, but, at the same time, I thoroughly disagree, as the majority of the nationally-minded people in this country disagree, with the public views with regard to the teaching of the Irish language that have been frequently given expression to by Senator Tierney, and I wish to make it clear that we, as members of the Seanad, are in no way responsible for Senator Tierney's public opinions as regards the Irish language. I wish Senator Tierney well. He and I are natives of the same county. He comes from the English-speaking part of Galway, and I come from the western portion of the county. Although brought up in an English-speaking district, he has acquired a good knowledge of the Irish language, but it does damage to the language movement to see a man who has gone to considerable trouble to acquire a knowledge of Irish expressing unpopular views in regard to it. I feel that I have made my position clear on this question. I suppose that my views will be held by a great many members of this House.
Brathaimse, go háithrid, dualgas a bheith orm, dualgas mí-thaithneamhach go deimhin, maidir leis an tairgsint atá os ár gcomháir.
Aithním agus admhuím an ceart atá tugtha, de bharr nóis, do dhreamanna aithride, an leas-chathaoirleacht a bheith aca. Ag an am céanna, ní féidir liom an ócáid seo a leigean thart gan a chur in iúl don tSeanad go bhfuil mé mí-shásta leis an Seanadóir Ó Tighearnaigh mar gheall ar an gcaoi inar chuir sé i gcoinne ceisteanna áithride a bhaineas le teagasg agus le foirleathnú na Gaedhilge sa tír. Aithním gur duine an-fheiliúnach an Seanadóir Ó Tighearnaigh ina lán slite le haghaidh na honóra atámaid ar tí a bhronnadh air agus ba mhaith liom a rá arís leis an Seanad agus leis an Seanadóir Ó Tighearnaigh gur mar gheall ar cheist na Gaedhilge amháin atá mé mí-shásta leis. Níl fúm cur i gcoinne toghcháin an tSeanadóra agus ba mhaith liom go luaifí mo mhí-shástacht ar thuarascbhála an tSeanaid.
Ba mhaith liom a rá go n-aontuím leis na tuairimí atá ag an Seanadóir Ó Máille agus ag an Seanadóir Ó Buachalla. Ba mhaith an rud é duine eile bheith molta mar Leas-Chathaoirleach. Cad chuige an gáire?
Cad chuige ná beadh?
Bhí mise ag obair ar feadh níos mó ná cúig bliana is dachad ar mhaithe leis an nGaedhilge, agus ní aontuím le cuid de na tuairimí do léigh mé ins na nuachtáin, tuairimí an tSeanadóra Uí Thighearnaigh, agus siné an príomh-fháth go bhfuilim i gcoinnibh an rúin seo.
Like the previous speakers, I would prefer some other name to be put before the House for the position of Leas-chathaoirleach.
Why did you not put in the other name?
For 45 years, we have been endeavouring to advance the language of our country, and I am not at all pleased with the pronóuncements of Senator Tierney recently in relation to it. I would prefer to have some other name before the House.
The question before the House is whether Senator Tierney is suitable for this high post. I am of opinion that he is, and, therefore, I am going to vote for him. He has shown his ability, his impartiality and his knowledge of procedure, and he has proved it during the last five years. Therefore, when his name is proposed, extraneous considerations should not be introduced.
I do not think that Senator Tierney's opinions on outside things—his opinions about the war, for instance—should influence us. They are not of immediate importance. I do not agree with those who hold that if Senator Tierney criticises the method of teaching Irish that he is necessarily against it.
Although I do not agree with his opinions—I think they are founded on insufficient knowledge and experience—when a man honestly expresses his opinions, there should not be any attempt to penalise him. I believe that the question before us is whether Senator Tierney is a fit man to help you, A Cathaoirligh, in the very important duty of guiding this House. His record for the last five years gives an emphatic "yes", and that is the question for us.
Ní rabhas chun éirghe in aon chor mara mbeadh an méid adubhairt an triúr Seanadóirí a labhair mar gheall ar thuairimí an tSeanadóra Uí Thighearnaigh ar an nGaodhluinn. Níl aon bhaint dá laghad ag tuairimí an tSeanadóra leis an dtairgsint atá os ár gcómhair anois.
Tá mise ar aon aigne ar fad leis an Seanadóir Bean Uí Choinceannain nár cheart cúrsaí mar seo do tharraing isteach sa díospóireacht iniu. An chainnt do dhein an bhean uasal atá tar éis suidhe síos, chuir sí áthas orm, ach is mór an náire go ndéanfadh aon triúr Seanadóiri cainnt chó hamadánta leis an gcainnt a dubhairt an triúr eile do labhair. Ní fheadar an mbeidh ciall go deo ag na daoine seo a bhíonn ag síor-chainnt mar gheall ar an nGaodhluinn.
Nuair a bhí an Cathaoirleach dá thogha dubhairt mise go raibh mé sásta go mbéadh sé go maith sa Cathaoir. Is duine le Fianna Fáil an Cathaoirleach; cá bhfuil an páiste do cheapfadh go raibh mise ag iompódh le muinntir Fianna Fáil nuair a mhol mé Seán Ó Guilidhe mar Chathaoirleach ar an Seanad? Agus nach é an scéal céanna anois é?
Nílim ag cur síos ar thuairimí an tSeanadóra Uí Thighearnaigh. Táimíd d'iarraidh a fháil amach an mbeidh sé go maith sa Chathaoir, ag tabhairt congnaimh duitse, a Chathaoirligh. Is dóigh liomsa go raibh, agus go mbeidh arís; agus ní thuigim cad é an saghas díth céille ná cad é an sórt leanbhaíochta atá ag baint leis na daoine a labhair annseo agus ná tuigeann an scéal san.
Lest there might be any misunderstanding arising out of the speeches which the House has just heard, I should like to say that I entirely support the proposition of Senator O'Connell. After all, Senator Tierney has his point of view as to the methods of teaching Irish and he is quite entitled to hold them.
And they are quite irrelevant, Sir.
As Senator Mrs. Concannon has pointed out, what we are doing is electing a Senator to the post of Leas-Chathaoirleach who, we think, is qualified to fill the position for which he is proposed. Having known Senator Tierney in his personal and in his professorial capacity, I think it is an honour to have a man of his mental attainments to assist you, Sir, in the deliberations of this House. I very much deprecate that a man's private personal opinions should be made the subject of an attack upon him. Lest there might be any misunderstanding in the matter I wish to say that I do not at all approve of the methods employed on this occasion.
Question put and declared carried.
Ba mhaith liom mo bhaochas a ghabháil leis an Seanad. Tá bród mór orm go measann na Seanadóirí gur ceart an post árd seo do thabhairt dom an dara huair agus nach ceart mé do chaitheamh amach. Geallaimse go ndéanfa mé mo dhícheall le dualgaisí an phosta seo do chólíonadh chó maith is atá i mo chomhacht. Ní hí seo an ócáid, is dóigh liom, le díospóireacht do chur ar bun ar na tuairimí atá agamsa ar cheist áirithe. Ach ba mhaith liom a chur in iúl don Seanadóir Ó Buachalla nach námha don Ghaedhilg mise, nár nocht mé aríamh tuairim ar bith i gcoinne na Gaedhilge, agus go ndéanfa mé mo dhícheall i gcómhnaí le cúis na Gaedhilge, mar a thuigimse í, do chur ar aghaidh.