The following is a report from the Committee on Procedure and Privileges which met to-day:—
1. The committee had under consideration the position arising from the simultaneous absence through illness of clerk and clerk-assistant of the House, having regard to the statutory duties imposed on the clerk, and, in his absence, on the clerk-assistant by the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1947.
2. The committee is agreed that in the aforesaid contingency power should be given by Standing Order to the Cathaoirleach to appoint a member of the joint staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas as acting-clerk of the Seanad whenever and for whatever period such appointment may be necessary so that the administration of the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1947, may not be interfered with.
3. The committee recommends that the following be adopted as a Standing Order of Seanad Eireann:—
Absence of Clerk and Clerk-Assistant.
63a. If the clerk and clerk-assistant are both simultaneously unable through illness or other cause to discharge their duties, the Cathaoirleach may appoint a member of the joint staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas to be acting-clerk during the period when both the clerk and clerk-assistant are so unable to function and such acting-clerk shall, for the time being, perform all the duties and exercise all the powers and functions of the clerk.
(Signed)
TADHG Ó DONNABHÁIN,
Chairman.
14th March, 1951.
