Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 May 1987

Vol. 116 No. 2

Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach.

Mr. Manning

Tairgim:

Go dtoghfar an Seanadóir Cathal Mac Domhnaill mar Leas-Chathaoirleach.

In so doing I should like to pay tribute once again to the generosity of the Government group in ensuring that the process of power sharing, which has existed in the Seanad for some years now and which contributes, in a very real way, to good relations between both sides of the House, is continuing.

Senator McDonald is joint father of the House. I do not know how that can operate but he and Senator Willie Ryan share this joint fatherhood of the House. He has wide experience at all levels of parliamentary activity, in Europe, in the other House of the Oireachtas and here. He filled the office of Cathaoirleach and Leas-Chathaoirleach before in a very distinguished, even-handed and fair manner. I believe that he will continue the high traditions set by the previous Leas-Chathaoirleach over the past number of years. It is my pleasure to propose Senator McDonald.

Mrs. Bulbulia

I have great pleasure in seconding the proposal that Senator Charlie McDonald be elected Leas-Chathaoirleach. He will bring tremendous experience to this office, experience of procedure, of protocol and a thorough knowledge of the Standing Orders of this House. He has filled this post in the past. In addition, he has been a distinguished Cathaoirleach of the House. His record stretches back over 25 years because during that period he has been a Member of both Houses of the Oireachtas. He has also been vice President of the European Parliament and President of the Commission for Regional Policy. Of course he has been a local authority member since the 1950's. For all of these reasons, and particularly for his unrivalled experience and knowledge of procedure I have pleasure in seconding the proposal.

Professor Murphy

Caithfidh mé a rá i dtosach báire go bhfuil mise lán sásta leis an ainmniúchán ó thaobh pearsantacht an Seanadóir Charlie McDonald. Is fear cumasach é agus ionadaí dúthrachtach. Tá taithí aige faoi mar atá ráite roimhe seo, mar Leas-Chathaoirleach cheana féin agus tá sé cruthuithe aige gur féidir leis na cúraimí a dhéanamh go slachtmhar agus go cothromach. Ach tá sé de dhualgas orm an rud céanna a rá a dúirt mé an lá a thoghadh tusa, a Chathoirligh. Níor bhain mé aon taitneamh an lá sin as an méid a bhí orm a rá agus ní bhainim aon taitneamh as inniu, ach níl aon éalú ón dualgas. Má táimid i ndáiríre in aon chor faoin teanga náisiúnta, faoin dhá-theangachas agus faoi mholtaí Chomhchomhairle an Oireachtais i dtaobh úsáid na Gaeilge in ár ngnó, caithfimid a éileamh gur cóir go mbeadh ard-oifigigh an Oireachtais réasúnta líofa sa teanga. In aon chúis deir Buan-ordú Uimh 16:

Déanfar gnó an tSeanaid trí Bhéarla nó trí Ghaeilge.

Glacaim go gciallaíonn sin nach mbeidh aon bhac orainn anseo agus sinn ag iarraidh ár ngnó a dhéanamh ó am go chéile trí mheán na Gaeilge.

Mar sin cuirim an cheist seo ar lucht ainmnuícháin Charlie McDonald — agus cuirim an cheist toisc nach bhfuil a fhios agam an bhfuil Gaeilge aige nó nach bhfuil — an bhfuil ar a chumas imeachtaí an tSeanaid a stiúradh trí Ghaeilge.

I do not raise this matter out of any personal spite and I do not get any pleasure out of it but it seems to me that we have to keep on reminding ourselves that Irish is the first official language and the business of the Seanad, according to Standing Orders, is to be conducted in Irish or in English which, in effect, must mean in Irish and in English as the Members please. I take no pleasure in raising this matter but at the same time I make no apologies for asserting that the high elected officers of the Oireachtas, for whom I have the greatest respect, should be able to handle the business of the House fluently in either language. Therefore, I have to ask the proposers of Senator McDonald about whose competence I have no doubt, whether he is able to conduct the business of the House competently through both languages.

Mr. Manning

The short answer, which the Senator could have found out by asking Senator McDonald, is yes he is competent in Irish and in French as well.

Professor Murphy

I must make it clear that the reason I asked the question in the House is that it is the business of the House; it is not a question of my asking Senator McDonald. It is a question which the House should be concerned with anyway. I am glad to hear Senator Manning's assurance and I have pleasure in voting for Senator McDonald.

Mr. Lanigan

I would like to welcome the nomination of Senator Charlie McDonald as Leas-Chathaoirleach. He has worked diligently in this House and elsewhere. He is a man who has a lot of experience in the ordering of business in this House and I have no doubt that he will continue in the great tradition of Leas-Chathaoirligh.

Ba mhaith liom a rá go mbeidh obair an tSeanaid trí Ghaeilge agus trí Bhéarla. Má tá sí agat labhair í, mura bhfuil sí agat ní féidir í a labhairt. I will try to have a dual teanga sa Seanad agus daoine mar an Seanadóir O'Toole agus daoine eile atá in ann Gaeilge a labhairt níos líofa ná atá sí agam but I can assure you if they want to speak Irish I will understand every word they say. If they want to get away with anything by speaking Irish ní éireoidh leo. Tá sí i mo cheann cé nach dtagann sí i gcónaí chuig mo theanga.

Question put and agreed to.

Mr. McDonald

Is mian liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na Seanadóirí as ucht na honóra atá siad tar éis a bhronnadh orm agus mé a thoghadh mar Leas-Chathaoirleach ar an Seanad. Is mór an onóir seo agus geallaim go ndéanfaidh mé gach aon iarracht na dualgais a bhaineann leis an oifig seo a chomhlíonadh chomh héifeachtach agus chomh cothramach agus is féidir liom é sin a dhéanamh.

I should like to thank my proposer and seconder for their kind words and I want to thank my colleagues, old and new, for the honour they have conferred on me. It is an honour I fully appreciate and I should like to assure all Senators that I will do my utmost to act with fairness and impartiality to all Senators. I hope that the spirit of co-operation which has always been a characteristic of this House will continue throughout this eighteenth Seanad.

I take the point that has been made very clearly by my friend and colleague Senator Murphy. In my earlier days in the House when the membership included great Gaelic scholars dar ndoigh An Seabhac agus an tOllamh Micheál O hAodha and indeed many others, most of the official business, like the Order of Business, was conducted through Irish. The Cathaoirleach at that time was An tSeanadóir Ó Buachalla. I hope that in this term greater opportunities will be given to the House to use the language more fully. May I just wish all Senators success and personal satisfaction in the work that lies before the House.

Mr. W. Ryan

I should like to congratulate Senator McDonald on his election as Leas-Chathaoirleach. He has been with me here since 1961. He has already filled the position of Cathaoirleach with distinction and he will fill this post with distinction also. Would it be possible to appoint the Committee of Selection today so that we can appoint the Committee on Procedures and Privileges next week?

An Cathaoirleach

The motion can be taken later if you hand it in, naming the persons.

Mr. O'Shea

Thar ceann mé féin agus an Lucht Oibre be mhaith liom tréaslú leis an Seanadóir McDonald as ucht go bhfuil sé tofa mar Leas-Chathaoirleach ar an Seanad. Ba mhaith liom freisin mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Seanadóir Manning mar gheall ar an agallamh a bhí aige leis an Lucht Oibre ar an ábhar seo.

An Cathaoirleach

I would like to add my congratulations to Senator Charles McDonald on his appointment as Leas-Chathaoirleach. Like many of us Senator McDonald is totally committed to this House. I hope that we, as Cathaoirleach and Leas-Chathaoirleach, and indeed every Senator will try to keep up the high standards that have been set in the Seanad in recent years.