Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 16 Jan 1924

Vol. 6 No. 4

JOINT COMMITTEE ON STANDING ORDERS.

Mr. GEORGE NICHOLLS

I beg to move:—

Go ndéanfar triúr teachtaí, a ainmneoidh an Coiste Roghnathóireachta, do cheapa chun fónamh in éineacht le triúr ball den tSeanad ar cho-Chóiste na mBuan-Orduithe a bunófar do réir Ordú 7 des na Buan-Orduithe a bhaineann le Gnó Príobháideach.

That three Deputies, to be nominated by the Committee of Selection, be appointed to serve with three members of the Seanad on the Joint Committee on Standing Orders to be set up in pursuance of Order 7 of the Standing Order relative to Private Business.

Major COOPER

I beg to second.

Motion put and agreed to.

Mr. DARRELL FIGGIS

It is apparent to others, but so far not to me, what exactly is the purpose of this Committee. It is merely a matter of information. It is not set out here, and I have not been able to follow it. Is it to act as the final Committee of the two Houses, or to consider revisions of the Standing Orders?

Major COOPER

Perhaps as a member of the Standing Orders Committee, I may be allowed to reply. This is more for procedure than for any other purpose. The Committee will not consider the Bills. It will be in permanent session as a sort of supervising Committee of the Private Bill procedure, and it will be also the channel of communication between the Seanad and the Dáil as regards private business. It will not be a Committee that will have an enormous amount of duty to perform. The whole functions of the Committee are laid down in the Private Bills Standing Orders.

Mr. DARRELL FIGGIS

I am very much obliged to the Deputy. Perhaps I may further ask him, in regard to any question of interpretation of these Private Bills Standing Orders, if any Deputy or any other person desires to have an interpretation with regard to some point that remains in doubt on the reading, will this Committee be the Committee to which to apply, or if not, to whom should the application be made?

Major COOPER

This is not a considered judgment, but I think he should apply to the Examiner of Private Bills in the first instance, who will be an official of the Dáil. Another function of the Committee will be the nominating of members to sit on Committees on various Bills. They will nominate the panel of those who will consider the various Private Bills that will go before the Oireachtas.