I oppose this section.
SECTION 74.
Question proposed : "That Section 74 stand part of the Bill".
We have threshed out this point already in relation to officers. This is the case of men of the Reserve.
We considered at length the position of an officer who became a member of the Oireachtas and the majority view of the Committee was that in that case he should cease to belong to the Reserve. The point now is whether, if a reservist becomes a member of the Oireachtas he should also be obliged to leave the Reserve or be discharged. On the same principle which we already discussed and on the grounds I gave in the previous debate, I strongly suggest that a reservist should not have to leave or be discharged, if he has the luck—I do not know whether you could call it good luck or not—to be elected to the Oireachtas, either as a Deputy or a Senator.
The reasons which I gave in regard to the other section apply in this case.
I should be inclined to agree with Deputy Cowan's view on this point ; but if it has been threshed out already, I do not desire to re-open it.
For record purposes, I ask that a division be called.
Question put.
The Committee divided : Tá, 5 ; Níl. 2.
Tá
- Minister for Defence.
- Gallagher Colm.
- Brennan, Thomas.
- Hilliard, Michael.
- Colley, Harry.
Níl.
- Cowan, Peadar.
- O’Higgins, (Jun.) T. F.
Question declared carried.