Now, Sir, I have come to the final stage, to move the Adjournment in accordance with the Resolution, and in moving it I should like to say that I have the honour to thank every member of the Dáil. Since we first met here last September, we have experienced unfailing courtesy, cordial co-operation and assistance, and genuine efforts to help in the difficult and arduous task of the Government. We have not been able to complete the whole legislative proposals of which notice was given in the Governor-General's Speech. I think that something like eleven Bills were mentioned in that Address, and although much legislative work has been done during the period—something like forty-three Acts of the Oireachtas having been passed—there are three important measures which we were not able to produce in time to have passed into Acts of the Oireachtas. One of these, perhaps the most important, is the Judiciary Bill; the second is the Ministries' Bill and the third is the Patents, Trades Marks and Copyright Bill. Two of these have actually been prepared and are ready for introduction on the re-assembly of the Oireachtas. The third is almost complete.
During the last eight or nine months there have been stormy discussions here but, speaking on behalf of the other members of the Ministry, I should say that none of us has ever experienced a more generous assembly or greater efforts to help in the constructive work which we have had to perform during that time. The Dáil, since its first meeting, to some extent, had the same experience as the first Dáil. Much the same sort of dangers beset the members in attending here, or in coming to attend here and, as far as I can recollect, in no case was there a casualty in the first Dáil; we have had one case of a fatal casualty and one casualty which, happily, was not fatal. I appreciate the courage of the Deputies, and every member of the Ministry also appreciates it, and we wish to testify to the fact that danger did not prevent Deputies from attending to their duty here. I think, Sir, that we owe it also to those who gave their lives to make a more peaceful and orderly country that our testimony to their great sacrifice and our sympathy with their friends should be tendered, and in that respect I think that I would be expressing the views of every member of the Dáil and of the Oireachtas in tendering to them that sympathy in the great sacrifices that have been their unhappy lot to contribute, but which, in the circumstances, they willingly contributed towards making a peaceful and orderly country here. We have had the opportunity of seeing what hard work could be done by those who took up arms in defence of the State, both in the Army and in the other organisations which have made it possible for us to secure both life and property in the State.
I think, Sir, that it is also due that we should express to you, to the Leas Cheann Comhairle, to Mr. FitzGibbon and Mr. Nicholls our warm appreciation of the great efforts that you, one and all, have made in conducting the business harmoniously, with great dignity and decorum and with very marked ability, and I may venture to express the hope, Sir, that you may live to occupy the same position in the new Dáil.