The Minister will now formally move Article 13.
DAIL IN COMMITTEE ON THE CONSTITUTION BILL. - ARTICLE 13.
I formally move that Article 13 stand part of the Bill. It reads:—
"The Parliament/Oireachtas shall sit in or near the City of Dublin or in such other place as from time to time it may determine."
That is one of the Articles the Minister for Local Government thought was redundant.
Mr. O'HIGGINS
I understand for diplomatic purposes it is just as well to set out in the Constitution what is the Capital of the country, and that something corresponding to this may be found in practically every other Constitution.
That matter was very earnestly gone into a long time before, and it was decided, in spite of its apparent redundancy, it ought to stand, and there are reasons which need not be gone into now.
It is just as well to have this explained. I take it the proposition here is that the Parliament may have to sit elsewhere than in Ireland.
I take it Dublin was to be the Capital and site of the Legislature, until the Legislature shall otherwise determine.
May I take it Article 13 is agreed to?
Agreed.