Vol. 35 No. 2
I move:—
That the Seanad concur with the Dáil in their Resolution communicated to the Seanad the 4th day of May, 1948, that it is expedient that a Joint Committee consisting of seven members of the Dáil and seven members of the Seanad be set up to assist and advise the Ceann Comhairle in the direction and control of the Oireachtas Restaurant.
This motion suggests that seven members of the Seanad be set up. That is the same number as was decided on in 1944. I confess I can see no reason why, say, the Library Committee, which, in 1944 was five, was increased to seven. I make the point now to have it on record that if it is necessary that the numbers on any of these committees should be increased, they should be increased on every committee.
The Dáil has already passed a resolution which they sent to us, in which they name a particular number of persons to serve on a committee. We can disagree with the Dáil if we think fit, but is it worth while to disagree with the resolution from the Dáil merely to increase the number in respect of one committee from five to seven? I do not think it is. All we are asked to do is to concur in the resolution from the Dáil.
With all due respect to what is done in the Dáil, it does not affect me in the slightest as to what I do here. I am making the point that there are resolutions on our paper, one of which asks us to concur with the Dáil in the appointment of a committee the numbers of which are exactly the same as they were in 1944, and another which asks us to concur in the appointment of a committee, the numbers of which have been increased from what they were in 1944. Some reason should be given. That is all I ask for.
That is a question which might be taken up when the committee meets but these committees are not all of the same character. In some cases it is necessary that the committee should have a sufficient number of members to allow for representation from different groups and Parties.
In other cases, as for example the Committee on Consolidation Bills or the Joint Library Committee, one takes more account of a person's aptitude or experience than of his political affiliations; and it may be thought that this particular committee is one of the rare cases where politics do not matter, and that seven would be sufficient. I think we have no option at all, that we could not possibly put on more members than the Dáil has selected; and, in any event, the representation of political groups on this particular committee is never regarded as a proper function.
May I say that the new groups eat just as much in the restaurant as the old Parties?
