Vol. 66 No. 4
Fuarthas scéala ón Taoiseach á iarraidh go ndéanfaí socrú chun cruinniú de Sheanad Éireann a ghairm do 3.10 p.m., Dé Máirt, 21 Eanáir, 1969, i dTeach an Ard-Mhéara, Baile Átha Cliath, chun éisteacht le haitheasc ón Uachtarán.
A communication has been received from the Taoiseach requesting that arrangements should be made to summon a meeting of Seanad Éireann for 3.10 p.m. on Tuesday, 21st January, 1969 in the Mansion House, Dublin to hear an address by the President.
Arising out of that statement which is connected with the documents we have had in connection with the Commemoration Meeting next Tuesday I should like to ask a few questions. Is the House going to be given an opportunity of approving the recommendations of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges? Has it been agreed by this House that no Independents shall speak at all either of Dáil or Seanad and that no ordinary Members of the Seanad shall have an opportunity of speaking at all? I should also like some assurance which is not in the published documents that there will be at least some reference to the democratic programme of the first Dáil and not merely a reiteration of commemorative words.
As the Senator is aware, the Committee on Procedure and Privileges discussed this matter specifically. Independent Members were represented at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and the arrangements were approved by the Committee and ordinarily arrangements of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges are accepted by the House.
On a point of order, is it not usual to request the House to accept them? I do not think we have been asked to accept them. Is it assumed that we always accept them without question?
It is presumed that they are accepted. That has been the procedure.
Unless there are things indicated.
I should like to issue a protest here on the matters I have mentioned. It seems to me unsatisfactory from the point of view of this House that we should be represented, in fact, by a very praiseworthy Senator but one solitary Senator who is an officer of this House. None of the ordinary Senators is to be allowed to contribute at all apparently and there are many things that require saying 50 years later.
Order of Business.
