Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 16 Aug 1927

Vol. 20 No. 21

PUBLIC BUSINESS. - THE ADJOURNMENT.

The PRESIDENT

In moving the adjournment of the House, I would like to say that I am prepared to meet the views of the House as far as possible. I propose an adjournment which will afford an opportunity to the House for recuperation. I propose a lengthy adjournment, three months, until the 15th November.

I would propose that within one week from the declaration of the poll in the two Dublin constituencies in which contests are taking place, to ask you, sir, to call the House together if, as a result of the declaration of the poll, those two seats were not to fall to two supporters of my Party in the House.

Mr. A. BYRNE

Might I ask the President, before any long adjournment takes place, whether there will be any proposals brought forward for the relief of the destitution that exists in the City of Dublin to-day? I do not think that we should have a three months' adjournment of the House with the poverty—I might almost say the starvation—that there is in the City of Dublin to-day. I hope the Government, between this and the adjournment, will do something for the unfortunate people that I am now speaking for. I hope the three months' adjournment will not be taken as a three months' holiday by members of the House or the Government.

Mr. HEWSON

I should like, before the adjournment, to have a statement from the Chair as to the position of Standing Committees during the adjournment. I do not know whether it is proposed that none of the Committees should do anything during the Recess. It seems to me, from what has taken place to-day, that they are now scarcely representatives of the House, and, clearly, I think their composition should be revised so as to give representation to all Parties.

Mr. BAXTER

Do I understand the President to say that if the two elections pending in Dublin constituencies do not go in favour of the Government Party that the Dáil will be called together in the week following? I would urge that the period should be longer than a week, that, if possible, it should be three weeks. I think the Dáil and the country could very well wait three weeks or a month. After all, Deputies have been here practically since January last, and I think that if Parties got a month to review the whole position it would be healthier for all Parties and the country. I would urge that no matter what happens as regards the elections in Dublin that the House should not be called together for a month from this date.

The PRESIDENT

I am agreeable to that.

Mr. HEFFERNAN

Before the adjournment, would the President give an indication of his intentions with regard to the Vote on the Order Paper to-day for a Supplementary Grant for creameries?

The PRESIDENT

Perhaps I had better answer together the two questions that have been put to me. With regard to Deputy Byrne's question, I really think it is scarcely fair to put a question of that sort to me at the moment. The Deputy should understand that, during the last three or four weeks, very heavy duties have fallen upon the various members of the Ministry. Some have had to take charge of new Ministries, while others have had more than one Ministry to look after. I promise to consult with the Minister for Local Government at the earliest date on the point, but I would not be in a position to give any greater undertaking than that.

As regards the Vote for the creameries, I submit to Deputy Heffernan that what we had experience of to-day and on Friday last really denotes that there is scarcely an atmosphere just at the moment for the consideration of a matter which ought not to be dealt with on a Party basis.

Mr. S.T. O'KELLY

I do not think that in present circumstances, and with the state of mind that was evidenced quite recently by those in authority, it would be wise for the country or that it would make for peace and order in the country to have a long adjournment. I emphasise that, bearing in mind the speeches and the declarations made recently. Therefore I think that a short adjournment, even if we were only to meet for one or two days, would best serve the interests of Ireland and the interests of peace and order. With your permission, sir, I move that the House reassembles on Tuesday, September 27th.

The PRESIDENT

I am open to accommodation on that point, but as regards September 27th the Deputy who has just spoken scarcely understands that we have been here since January, sometimes for twelve and thirteen hours a day, and that in consequence the Members need some little time for holidays. In addition, we have a meeting of the League of Nations which Ministers must attend. I submit, bearing these two things in mind, that the 27th September is scarcely a suitable date. I would suggest the 25th or the 18th October if that would be agreeable.

Mr. JOHN WHITE

I would remind the House that there is such a thing as a harvest to be cut and gathered in during the next month.

Mr. S.T. O'KELLY

I would say that there is a greater harvest than the agricultural harvest our friend refers to to be gathered in Ireland. There is the harvest of peace to be gathered and the harvest of order.

Mr. WHITE

We have peace.

Mr. S.T. O'KELLY

I do not know whether or not the Deputy realises the condition of the country to-day?

Mr. WHITE

Perhaps as well as you.

Mr. S.T. O'KELLY

Recent circumstances ought to have forced that on the mind of the Deputy as well as on the minds of others. With that object in view, the object of peace, order and contentment in the country, the striving to get something out of the fact that we are here, and the expressions of good-will towards the country and of peace and order that brought us here, suggests to me to urge on the House that we should have a shorter adjournment than that proposed. I would suggest the 5th October.

The PRESIDENT

I think the 18th October would be a fair bargain.

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

Perhaps the Deputy would fix on a Tuesday. The Tuesdays in October will be the 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th.

Mr. S.T. O'KELLY

I would prefer the 4th then. I would remind the House that some of us have been in session a long time. It is not since January of this year, or last year or the year before. We have been in session for Ireland for many years. We have not been here in session, but we have been doing arduous duties, though I will not elaborate on them. We have gone through times that should be in the minds of some of you people, and the fact that we are here should also be borne in your minds and what that means. It means something to you and to your harvest. Remember that, please. I ask you to assist us to promote peace, reconstruction and concord in Ireland. If you help in doing that, you will be doing good work for your own best interests, your own material interests and therefore I propose a short adjournment.

The PRESIDENT

I make one other offer, that the House adjourn to the 11th October.

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

Is there general agreement that the motion be altered to read that the Dáil adjourn to the 11th October instead of the 15th November?

Agreed.

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

Deputy Hewson asked a question with regard to the Constitution of Committees. The Committee on Procedure and Privileges had a meeting on Friday morning, and after the matter on the Agenda was disposed of representatives of the Fianna Fáil Party were invited to attend. Deputies Aiken, Seán Lemass and Seán T. O'Kelly attended. The question with regard to seating accommodation in the House was decided. It was suggested that a new arrangement will have to be made with regard to Committees. The procedure for that purpose will be, I think, after consultation between the Whips, to appoint a new Committee of Selection. A suitable motion which I am sure the chief Whip of the Government Party would move, could then be brought forward.

Mr. DAVIN

I understand, if I am rightly informed, that good reasons could be given for the passage without discussion or for its acceptance in a non-party way of the Supplementary Estimate covered by item No. 2 on the Order Paper. If the Minister for Agriculture would say that there is no urgency about the matter, we could afford to leave it there. But if this Vote is regarded as urgent, it could be dealt with in a non-party way.

MINISTER for AGRICULTURE (Mr. Hogan)

The agreement for sale with regard to these creameries could be extended. The agreement is subject to the consent of the Dáil, which may be given either now or in two months' time.

Mr. BAXTER

Is it not true that some of these creameries are at the moment seriously embarrassed because this Vote has not gone through? Should we not, for the sake of the farmers who are going to be seriously inconvenienced otherwise, make it possible for them to carry on their business in the normal way, and agree to this?

Mr. BELTON

Is the Deputy sure that he is speaking for the farmers affected? Is he sure that the farmers of the country are satisfied with this creamery transaction at all?

Mr. HOGAN

That is another question. This Vote is to pay for creameries which have been purchased or, to put it more accurately, in respect of which an agreement to purchase has been entered into. That agreement stands. The fact that the money is paid to-day, this day month, or this day two months, does not make a lot of difference.

The Dáil adjourned at 8.5 p.m. to Tuesday, 11th October, 1927.