On the section, why say "subject to sub-section (2) of this section, the poll, if any, at a referendum, etc." Why say "if any"? Does not a referendum imply a poll?
Public Business. - Referendum (Amendment) Bill, 1946— Committee and Final Stages.
Section 1 agreed to.
SECTION 2.
Question proposed: "That Section 2 stand part of the Bill."
I think that is strictly correct, and that the Senator is right.
Should we not take out the words "if any"? I think they have been copied from the other Bill under which there need not necessarily be a poll. If permission is granted by the House, I am prepared now to move the deletion of the words.
Permission to move for the deletion of the words "if any" granted.
I move:—
In section 2 (1), line 16, after the word "poll" to delete the words, "if any".
Amendment agreed to.
Section 2, as amended, agreed to.
SECTION 3.
Government amendment:
To insert at the end of the section, the following two paragraphs:—
(d) by the insertion in paragraph (3) of Rule 32, of the words "President and the" before the words "Taoiseach."
(e) by the insertion in paragraph (4) of Rule 32, of the words "President and the" before the word "Taoiseach".
The purpose of the amendment is quite evident. It is considered desirable that the notification of the result of the Referendum should be communicated directly to the President as well as to the Taoiseach, since the President is instrumental in calling for the Referendum and is directly interested in its result. We felt it desirable that all messages in regard to the holding of a Referendum should be communicated directly to him and not only to the Government and, through the Government, to him.
It is a courtesy amendment; it is not any harm to be courteous, though at one time it used to be out of fashion.
Amendment agreed to.
Section 3, as amended, agreed to.
Sections 4 to 10, inclusive, the Schedule and Title, agreed to.
Bill reported, with two amendments.
Agreed to take the Fourth Stage now.
Question—"That the Bill be received for final consideration"—put and agreed to.
Agreed to take the Fifth Stage now.
Question—"That the Bill do now pass"—put and agreed to.
Bill ordered to be returned to the Dáil, with two amendments.