Glacaim anois le tairiscint nó tairiscintí maidir le Cathaoirleach a thoghadh.
I shall now receive a motion or motions relating to the election of a Cathaoirleach. An Seanadóir Ó Maoláin.
Toghadh Cathaoirligh.
An Cléireach
Tairgim:
Go dtoghfar an Seanadóir Mícheál C. Cranitch agus go rachaidh sé i gceannas an tSeanaid anois mar Chathaoirleach.
That Senator Mícheál C. Cranitch be elected and do now take the Chair of the Seanad as Cathaoirleach.
Is mian liom an Seanadóir Mícheál Cranitch a mholadh chun a bheith ina Chathaoirleach ar Sheanad Éireann. Is fear é go bhfuil a shaol caite aige i seirbhís na hÉireann ag saothrú teanga, ceoil is cultúir an náisiúin. Fear tuisceannach, ciúin, cáirdiúil é Mícheál Cranitch a bhfuil ard-mheas tuilte aige ó lucht an Tí seo ón am a tháinig sé isteach ann trí bliain ó shin. Tá anthaithí aige ar riar oibre agus chun a bheith i mbun cruinnithe agus tá taisteal déanta thar lear aige go minic. Múinteoir é go bhfuil ard-chéim onóra aige agus tá iontaibh agam as Mícheál Cranitch mar dhuine atá lán-oiriúnach chun cúram an Chathaoirligh a chomhlíonadh chun sásamh gach comhalta sa tSeanad. Mar sin, is mian liom é a mholadh mar Chathaoirleach ar an Tí seo.
Is mian liomsa cuidiú leis an dtairiscint atá molta ag an Seanadóir Ó Maoláin, sé sin Mícheál Cranitch a bheith ina chathaoirleach ar an Seanad. Mar chomharba an Seanadóir Mícheál Yeats, is fear oiriúnach é mar is dóigh liomsa, leis, mar adúirt an Seanadóir Ó Maoláin, nach bhfuil aon tréith ionmholta a bhí agus atá ag Mícheál Yeats nach bhfuil ag Mícheál Cranitch chomh mhaith. Tá sé uasal, éirimiúil, Gaelach agus foighneach agus, mar adúirt an Seanadóir Ó Maoláin leis, tá cion beirte déanta aige ar son tíre agus teanga. Bhí sé go gnóthach i gcúrsaí polaitíochta, i gcúrsaí ceoil agus i gcúrsaí léinn agus go mórmhór i gcúrsaí na Gaeilge. Fear é gur féidir le gach duine againn—is cuma cad é an dearcadh polaitíochta atá aige—a bheith mórálach as. Táim cinnte go stiúróidh sé obair an Tí seo go cóir agus go macánta agus go dtabharfaidh sé cothram na Féinne do chách. Gura fada buan é mar Chathaoirleach nuair a toghfar é.
While I do not find myself in disagreement with the views expressed by Senator Ó Maoláin or the other speaker with regard to the qualities of Senator Cranitch who has been proposed by them—indeed, I have a high respect and regard for Senator Cranitch—in proposing another name I do not do so out of any sense of antagonism to or criticism of Senator Cranitch.
I propose Senator Dooge, the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I do so because of my conviction that Senator Dooge is a man who is not only worthy of the office of Cathaoirleach of this Assembly but a man who, in the particular circumstances in which the vacancy falls to be filled, is deserving of it and the person who should be appointed. Senator Dooge has been Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Seanad since 1965. He is an experienced Chairman of this Assembly and, in addition, he has experience in other fields. He has served as chairman on local authorities. He is a person who has a distinguished academic career. In his own profession he has attained an international reputation. I think it is not unknown to the Members of this House that Senator Dooge, in his own profession, is a man who is widely sought after abroad for delivering lectures and so on in his own field.
To my mind he has all the qualities which would normally be associated with a man of his stature. He is obviously and eminently fair-minded. He has demonstrated, by more than five years' service as Leas-Chathaoirleach, that he will rule this assembly with complete impartiality. He is a man of great dignity and, perhaps more than all else, he is—and has demonstrated this time and time again in this House—a man who is good-humoured.
We are asked to fill a vacancy for the post of Cathaoirleach while approaching the end of the life of this Parliament. It is a very unusual situation and is probably without precedent. I do not recall this situation occurring either in this House or in the other House in the last 25 or 30 years, which would be within my own memory. I think I am correct in saying that the situation is completely without precedent.
When the Seanad met for the first time after the general election, we, on this side of the House, did not contest the right of the majority party to have the Chair. The precedent has been established in this House for a long time in the past that the majority party should have the Chair. I do not feel that we are in any way breaching that precedent in urging the House on this occasion to elect the Leas-Cathaoirleach as Cathaoirleach. In the circumstances where a man has served for more than five years in the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach, and when the vacancy has occurred in the autumn, if not the winter, of this Parliament, it would only be right that the person who has occupied the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach, with distinction and without complaint from any side of the House, should now be allowed to serve out the remaining months of this Parliament as Cathaoirleach.
At the moment, of course, he is acting Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, and I think I can say with great conviction that no Member of the Seanad on the benches opposite will find themselves in disagreement with anything I have said regarding Senator Dooge. He is a distinguished parliamentarian; he is a distinguished man in his own field; he is a man with long experience of both Parliament and public work generally; he is a man who is fully qualified and competent to deal with the business of this House in both the first and second official languages of the State. He is a man held in the highest esteem by all of us. I would strongly urge that the majority party on this occasion should feel, as I feel, and as I imagine a great many other people will feel, that for the few months that are left of this Parliament, it would only be right that the Leas-Chathaoirleach should be allowed to fill the post of Cathaoirleach.
I wish to second the proposal made by Senator O'Higgins that Senator Dooge should be elected Chathaoirleach of this Assembly. In doing so, I re-echo the sentiments expressed by my colleague, Senator O'Higgins. Senator Dooge was first elected in 1961 and has been re-elected at each general election since. As Senator O'Higgins has told the House, he has certainly carried out his duty in an exemplary manner.
It is interesting to recall that when Deputy Hogan from County Clare— go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam— died three years ago, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, Cormac Breslin, was elected Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann. Perhaps this is a precedent and a course of action that at least some of us thought would be followed in the other House of the Oireachtas.
On a vote. He was elected on a vote.
The Senator was not there.
When Frank Fahy retired, Deputy Hogan was selected although he was an Opposition Deputy.
On a vote, too.
I, therefore, think there was a precedent there. Everybody in the Seanad agrees that during the last three years a very high standard has been set by the outgoing Cathaoirleach, Senator Yeats, and indeed by the Leas-Chathaoirleach, Senator Dooge. It is important for the easy transaction of business to ensure that this happy situation continues. The best way to ensure this is to elect as Cathaoirleach a man with experience, a man who since 1965 has enjoyed the confidence of all sides of the House. I, therefore, formally second Senator O'Higgins's proposal.
As an independent Senator, I should like to comment on the choice of candidates put forward for election as Cathaoirleach. First of all, I should like to preface my remarks by remembering my first day in this House—as it was the first day for a number of us—when we chose the previous Cathaoirleach. My colleague, Owen Sheehy Skeffington, made a very forceful statement about the manner of choosing a Cathaoirleach of the Seanad. He said it was a regrettable fact that inevitably he was chosen from the Government Party. On that occasion there was not a choice in the matter. The first point I want to make is to appreciate the fact that we are given a choice and a choice between two good candidates. I would agree with many of the statements expressed by Members on both sides of the House, but perhaps I am in a better position than some others to go further and say: "Very well, there are two good candidates. On a question of choice, which should the Seanad choose as Cathaoirleach?" I am speaking in an independent frame of mind, with no axe to grind and with a liking and respect for both candidates. I would have no hesitation in choosing the man whom I know to have very worthwhile experience. I am speaking of the present Leas-Chathaoirleach, Senator Dooge.
Every Member of the House has had experience of him as a Chairman; we have had experience of his contributions and he is the acknowledged expert on procedure in the House. On many occasions I have approached him for advice on a particular procedural point, and I know that this is true of many other Senators. Not only is he an expert but, unlike some experts, he is generous with his knowledge and generous with his time, and this is something which I have appreciated. It would be good for this House as a House of a Parliament which has not always, in my view, acquitted itself with honour, if we would choose the candidate on the basis of what would be the best Cathaoirleach for the Seanad for the remainder of this session.
I agree with Senator O'Higgins that the circumstances are peculiar and allow the Seanad more freedom to choose than has been the case on other occasions. This should be less a matter of party monopoly than of choice on the merits as to who ought to be the new Cathaoirleach and therefore I express my own choice that the person of whom we have had experience be Leas-Chathaoirleach. I note that although Senator Cranitch has been a regular and constructive contributor to the Seanad debates, to my recollection he has not acted as Cathaoirleach on any occasion. I may be wrong about that, but I do not remember him taking the Chair so that there are other more senior Senators on that side of the House who have had this experience but have not put themselves forward.
For these reasons and because I am speaking as an independent Senator I hope the House will choose on the side of experience and on the side of somebody who would be an excellent Cathaoirleach of the House, namely Senator Dooge.
I should like to comment on the proposals that have been made. Senator Robinson comments favourably on Senator Dooge but—and this is no reflection on the Senator—I would not like to see this House of Parliament being dominated by people who class themselves as being superior to the people of Ireland. This is a rut in which we could very easily find ourselves. This is the attitude which I sense here. I have enough experience of public life to know that some of these people, with due respect to their education and ability, can get carried away in theory and become far removed from the basic needs of people. It is a great day when we have a man from rural Ireland proposed as Cathaoirleach and on that basis alone it is a privilege for me to support him. It gives me great pleasure to do that.
Táim den bharúil gur ceart post an Chathaoirligh a thúirt don Leas-Chathaoirleach toisc gur chruthaigh sé le fada an lá gur fear é go bhfuil an-éifeacht ann chun cúrsaí an Tí seo a riaradh. Thug sé cothram na Féinne do gach ball. Ní h-ionann sin is a rá go bhfuilim den bharúil nach fear maith é an Seanadóir Cranitch ach ba cheart dúinn ár mbuíochas á chur in iúl don Leas-Chathaoirleach agus é a thoghadh mar Chathaoirleach.
The Leas-Chathaoirleach who has served this House well and who has been impartial and courageous in everything he did during his time as Leas-Chathaoirleach should be conferred with this honour as a mark of our appreciation of the work he did during his term as Leas-Chathaoirleach. I do not say that in a spirit of opposition to Senator Cranitch. He is a man who has made some worthwhile contributions in this House and he has done considerable work on behalf of Irish culture in the south of Ireland. He is a man whom I respect. I say that without any qualification.
I agree with the Senator who said that it is a good thing to see a national teacher from rural Ireland being elevated to such a high office. At the same time, Senator Dooge has at all times displayed remarkable impartiality, competence to deal with the position, fairness and courtesy to every Member of this House, and as a mark of the appreciation of Senators of the work he has done for so long and done so eminently well, we should promote him to the position of Cathaoirleach.
That would be a good example to this country. I do not believe that it is right in any walk of life that the winner should take all. When a minority party turn up a man of exceptional merit the majority party should recognise that. Senator Dooge would do credit to this House and to the office held by Cathaoirligh who have gone before him.
An Cléireach
As there are two motions before the House, I have, in accordance with Standing Orders, to put the question on the first motion.
Question proposed: "That Senator Mícheál C. Cranitch be elected and do take the Chair as Cathaoirleach."
The Seanad divided: Tá, 28; Níl, 14.
Tá
- Ahern, Liam.
- Brennan, John J.
- Brugha, Ruairí.
- Crinion, Brendan.
- Eachthéirn, Cáit Uí.
- Farrell, Joseph.
- Farrell, Peggy.
- Fitzsimons, Patrick.
- Flanagan, Thomas P.
- Gallanagh, Michael.
- Hanafin, Desmond.
- Honan, Dermot P.
- Keegan, Seán.
- Keery, Neville.
- Killilea, Mark.
- McElgunn, Farrell.
- McGlinchey, Bernard.
- McGowan, Patrick.
- Nash, John J.
- Norton, Patrick.
- O'Callaghan, Cornelius K.
- Ó Maoláin, Tomás.
- O'Sullivan, Terry.
- Ryan, Eoin.
- Ryan, Patrick W.
- Ryan, William.
- Sheldon, W. A. W.
- Walsh, Seán.
Níl
- Butler, Pierce.
- Farrelly, Denis.
- FitzGerald, Alexis.
- Fitzgerald, Jack.
- Jessop, W. J. E.
- Kelly, John.
- Lyons, Michael D.
- McDonald, Charles B.
- O'Brien, Andy.
- O'Brien, William.
- O'Higgins, Michael J.
- Reynolds, Patrick J.
- Robinson, Mary T. W.
- Russell, G. E.
Tellers: Tá, Senators Brennan and J. Farrell; Níl, Senators McDonald and W. O'Brien.
Question declared carried.
An Cléireach
Iarraim ar an Seanadóir Cranitch, mar sin, teacht i gceannas an tSeanaid.
Whereupon Senators rose in their places and remained standing while the Cathaoirleach proceeded to the dais.
Táim fíorbhuíoch díbh as ucht mé a cheapadh mar Chathaoirleach ar Sheanad Éireann anocht. Ní fiú an onóir mhór sin mé ach geallaim daoibh go ndéanfaidh mé mo sheacht ndícheall mo dhualgaisí a chomhlíonadh go héifeachtach, go díograiseach agus go tuisceanach. Gan comhoibriú uaibhse, a Sheanadóirí, gan cabhair oifigigh an tSeanaid, gan cúnamh Dé, moladh go deo leis, is cinnte nach bhféadfaí ár ngníomhartha a thabhairt chun chríche agus is cinnte go mbeadh ár n-iarrachtaí gan tairbhe.
Beidh fáilte faoi leith agam roimh díospóireachtaí agus óráideacha in ár dteanga féin ach pé acu i nGaeilge bhinn nó i mBéarla a labharfaidh sibh ní mhiste a rá go bhfaighaidh sibh gach duine agaibh cothram na Féinne uaimse.
It is with some trepidation I take the place vacated by an Seanadóir Mícheál Yeats because of the high standard he has set. He was as much a conductor as a Cathaoirleach, keeping a very nice balance between all the sections while being in absolute command at all times. The debates never fell flat and whenever there was a suggestion of sharpness he was very quick to act. The tone was always good and the performances even in the wind section were never long-winded. The harmony we have enjoyed for the past three and a half years is, indeed, a tribute to an Seanadóir Yeats and the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Deputy Chairmen also. It is a tribute to all the Senators here, a tribute to the officials and staff of the House and I depend on you all to help me to ensure that, le cúnamh Dé, our future performances will continue to remain at the highest possible level. Mar fhocal scoir guím gach beannacht agus grásta ó Dhia oraibh uilig san ath-bhliain.
As the person who opposed your candidature for Cathaoirleach, may I say that as far as my party and myself are concerned we wish you well in the office which you now occupy. We will give you the co-operation for which you have asked. I should just like to say that the few remarks I made regarding your good self, when proposing Senator Dooge, were meant sincerely. You do enjoy the esteem and regard of Members of this House. I look forward to your exercising, as you put it yourself, cothrom na Féinne for all Senators and parties in the House.
Go raibh maith agat.