With your permission, A Chinn Comhairle, I want to ask if a decision has been arrived at by the Committee upon Procedure and Privileges, with reference to the question of sittings of the House on Catholic holidays. I am reminded that this question will come up again, on account of to-morrow being one of the most important Catholic holidays of the year. Not having heard whether a decision has been arrived at, I would ask you, sir, to let us know how the matter stands and if it would be in order now, if there was general agreement in the House, to bring forward a proposition to adjourn over to-morrow, seeing that it is one of the most important Catholic holidays in the year.
SITTINGS OF DAIL ON CHURCH HOLIDAYS.
Deputy O'Kelly raised this matter on the 11th May, with regard to sittings during the following week. I suggested then that it was one which might be discussed by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, and promised that I would have it raised there. The question was raised at the Committee of Procedure and Privileges and this is the relevant minute of the Committee of Thursday, May 17th: "Sittings on holidays of obligation. Following upon the reference made in the House on Friday, May 11th, this matter was considered by the Committee. It was pointed out that it had not been the practice heretofore, that the Dáil should adjourn over a holiday of obligation, and as it appeared that sittings on only three, or possibly four, of the holidays, were likely to be affected, and on these days mainly when the holidays occurred on Thursdays, it was agreed that no action should be taken at present. The matter would, however, be reviewed if there appeared to be a considerable volume of opinion in favour of a change in practice." In other words the Committee did not come to any decision that there should be any change in practice. In fact, the Committee did not really consider the matter of putting it to a decision, as to whether as a matter of practice we should not meet on Church holidays. To that extent I think Deputy O'Kelly has not been met. That is to say, a decision has not been come to, on the question of altering the existing practice, or as to whether or not the House should meet on Church holidays. If the Deputy desires to pursue the matter further, the Committee can be asked to report formally to the House on the question of meeting on holidays of obligation, and let the House take a decision. With regard to the question of sitting to-morrow the question, of general agreement, could be settled now.
I do not think there is any agreement to adjourn the sitting over to-morrow but it might be possible, if there is any volume of opinion in favour of it, to let the matter be considered again by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, and to have representations made from the different Parties to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. There does not seem to be any reason for departing from the custom we have followed up to the present as far as to-morrow is concerned.
Would Deputy O'Kelly be satisfied if the matter were taken to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and if the Committee were to report to the House on the matter? The Committee in this case will be glad to hear any Deputy who desires to make representations on the matter.
I think I can say on behalf of Deputies on this side of the House that our opinion is that we ought not to sit on a Catholic holiday. However, I suppose that will come up again, and that somebody will take the initiative and bring the matter before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. I suppose we may take it that there is no likelihood of an adjournment over to-morrow?
Is it the intention to shelve this question? There appears to be a lack of moral courage amongst Deputies in dealing with the question. I, for one, suggest that there is nothing to prevent anybody from attending to his religious duties to-morrow and coming here to do his work afterwards, but I do not see why this House should be called to adjourn over any religious holiday. We are here for three days of the week, and if we are not to sit on holidays we will be letting a lot of Deputies loose on the public who would be much better engaged in this House, where they would probably commit far less sin.
Is the Deputy suggesting that we ought to sit on Sundays?
Is the Deputy suggesting that the public-houses should be closed as well?
There are two alternatives from the point of view of the Chair: that we ought to discuss the question in the House, or that we ought to refer the question to a Committee. I think, if there was agreement, the matter should be discussed in Committee. As a matter of fact, there is nothing before us which would enable us to discuss the matter now. Deputy O'Kelly, having given me notice that he would raise the matter after questions, was entitled to do so. The matter will come before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, and if the Committee report to the House it can then be discussed. I suggest that we should pass from it for the present.
There is the further question that we should not assemble in any week in which there is a holiday belonging to any religion. In that way the country would be saved the expense of our coming up here for one day.
Would Deputy Gorey consider the question of not coming here at all?
Perhaps it would be a good thing if some Deputies would consider not coming here at all.