Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Jul 1952

Vol. 40 No. 26

Dáil Member Assaulted—Senator's Apology.

An Cathaoirleach

Before proceeding with the business as agreed upon, I wish to announce that I have received a communication from the Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil that a member of this House, Senator William Quirke, on Thursday last, 24th July, assaulted a member of the Dáil, Deputy James M. Dillon, in the passage to the right of the staircase leading to the Dáil Chamber.

On receipt of this communication, I felt it my duty to summon Senator Quirke to my office and to ask him if he had committed the assault described in the Ceann Comhairle's communication. He admitted the assault, expressed his regret to me and indicated his intention to apologise to the House and to ask that an apology from him be communicated to the Dáil.

I find that this assault constituted an action in contempt of Parliament.

The powers conferred on me by the Standing Orders cover only disorder within the House itself and not disorderly acts committed in the precincts of the House or at a time when the House is not sitting.

I shall, therefore, ask Senator Quirke to make his apology. Having heard the Senator, the House itself can decide on any course which it deems appropriate.

Mr. Quirke

I wish to express my regret for having assaulted Deputy James M. Dillon in the precincts of the Houses of the Oireachtas and apologise to the Seanad for any reflexion on its good name caused by my action. At the same time, I extend my apologies to the Dáil for my conduct towards a member of that House and I trust that the good relations which have at all times existed between the two Houses will not be in any way impaired in consequence. I ask you, a Chathaoirligh, to convey my apologies to the Ceann Comhairle and to the Dáil at the earliest opportunity.

Professor Hayes

Having heard the Cathaoirleach's statement and the statement of Senator Quirke, I feel that the situation as between the Dáil and Seanad could be resolved by a motion in these terms. I move:—

That the Seanad accepts Senator Quirke's apology, and requests the Cathaoirleach to transmit its terms to the Dáil and to express the regret of the Seanad that the incident has taken place with the hope that the harmonious relations that have existed between the two Houses may not be disturbed in any way.

For my own part—I am sure I express the views of everybody in the House— I regret the occasion which makes this motion necessary. It is not a personal one. Difficulties between members of the same House may be—and, as we have seen, have been—easily resolved. The present situation, where a member of the Dáil and a member of the Seanad are concerned, is different and more complicated.

Since 1922, the Dáil and Seanad have been meeting in the same building, served to a great extent by the same staff. Under the Constitution of 1922 and the present Constitution, Ministers, whether members of the Dáil or of the Seanad, have always had the right of audience in both Houses. Senators enjoy certain privileges in the Dáil Chamber, as do Deputies here. These arrangements have proved convenient for all concerned—for the public, for civil servants, for members of the Oireachtas and, of course, above all for Ministers. They have also proved economical from the point of view of public finance. It is of great importance that such a state of affairs should not be disturbed. This motion is, therefore, directed towards the relations between the two Houses and is not concerned with personalities.

There is just one other word I would like to say. It is not a code of law, a set of rules or standing orders, or penalties of any kind, which can make parliamentary government successful and respected. For the satisfactory working of parliamentary institutions, certain principles must find general acceptance and be put into practice by all members.

Following the two statements already made, I feel that the motion will meet with unanimous agreement from the Seanad and I commend it to the approval of the House.

Mr. Hearne

I formally second the motion.

Question put and agreed to.

An Cathaoirleach

Déanfar de réir toil an tSeanaid.