MINISTERIAL REPORTS. - MOTION RE PAYMENT OF DEPUTIES' EXPENSES.
The following motion standing in the name of CATHAL BRUGHA (Waterford Co.) was moved by him and seconded by JOSEPH MACDONAGH (Tipperary North).
"That the railway fares of journeys to and from Dáil meetings of Deputies from the country who have previously entered their names in a ‘Special List' to be kept by the Chairman's clerk and the hotel or lodging expenses of those Deputies while attending Dáil meetings shall be re-imbursed to them on application to be made to the Clerk within a fortnight, and that the foregoing order be inserted in the Standing Orders as Standing Order 15, and that the Standing Order hitherto numbered 15 be re-numbered 16, and that Deputies from the country entering their names in the ‘Special List' during the Session at which this Order is made shall be entitled to the benefit of this Order in respect of the present Session."
SEAN MAC AN TSAOI (Monaghan South) moved as an amendment:—
"That each Deputy attending Sessions of the Dáil be allowed the 3rd class return railway fare from his ordinary place of residence, and, in addition, be paid a maintenance allowance of 15/- per diem during his attendance at the Dáil." Amendment seconded by COUNTESS MARKIEVICZ (St. Patrick's), but withdrawn on the undertaking of the Priomh-Aire that it would be understood that no Deputy should receive more than 3rd class return railway fare and 15/- per diem maintenance allowance.
A further amendment was moved by LIAM DE ROISTE (Cork City) and seconded by P. O CAOIMH (Cork North) to the effect that "The Constituencies be asked to maintain their Deputies so as to enable them to attend meetings of Dáil Eireann." This amendment was withdrawn on the Priomh-Aire agreeing to prefix the words "as long as it is necessary" to his motion, and the original motion thus amended was put and carried.