asked the Taoiseach if he will state under what circumstances it is intended to hold the proposed referendum on the abolition of P.R. and the election for the Presidency on the same day.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Polling Day for Referendum and Presidential Election.
1.
The period within which the poll at the referendum may be held is governed by the Referendum Act, 1942, by the date on which the Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill will be passed or deemed to have been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas and by such considerations as the fact that the new Register of Electors will come into operation on the 15th April and that, this year, Easter Sunday falls on the 29th March. Taking all these into account, if the Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill is not passed or deemed to have been passed until after the first week in March, polling could not be held earlier than about the end of May.
The polling day for the Presidential election is determined by the provisions of the Constitution, of the Presidential Elections Act, 1937, and of the Order to be made under that Act by the Minister for Local Government. If the ministerial Order were made on the earliest possible date, that is, on the 25th April, 1959, it is likely, judging from what happened in 1952, that the latest date for receiving nominations would be fixed at or about the 16th May, 1959, and that the polling date would be fixed at or about the 10th June, 1959.
It will be seen, therefore, that circumstances could arise in which the two polls would fall to be taken about the same time. In such circumstances, the interests of public convenience and of economy would obviously be served best by holding the two polls on the same day.
Hurrah!
According to what the Taoiseach said——
Did the Taoiseach change his mind?
He never changes his mind.
He said twice he would not hold them on the same day.
Arising out of the Taoiseach's reply, which boils down to the main point that the two elections need not be held on the same day—"they may be held about the same time" were the words used in the answer—and in view of the fact that the Taoiseach said it is most undesirable that these two very important issues should be confused, and in view of the Taoiseach's very recent decision to stand for election himself and his special position in the country, will he take steps to see that, no matter how close the two dates should be, the two elections are held on different dates, as they are two matters of particular importance? The question of P.R. is of supreme importance and should not be confused with the question of the Presidential election which is not related to it.
As I said, I would prefer that these two were not held on the same day, although there can be separate ballot papers and there are only two questions to be answered "Yes" or "No". It is not that it would be altogether undesirable that it should happen, but I myself would certainly have preferred to avoid it. When I was speaking in September about that, I did not anticipate that we were going to have the lengthy discussions here that we have had, but if circumstances are such as to bring these two pollings close together, the public convenience will have to be considered. The expense will also have to be considered, but the expense is the less important of the two. I did not arrange the circumstances.
Would the Taoiseach say what is the urgency about the amendment of the Constitution, that it could not be held in 1960?
I pointed out long ago that there was the question of rearrangement of constituencies, which would have to be undertaken this year.
That must be done within six months.
Is the Taoiseach not aware that the revision of the constituencies must take place anyway next year?
This year.
Yes, this year, 1959. It must take place this year. Whether the Constitution (Amendment) Bill is passed or not, such revision must take place, in respect of the existing legal position. Did I understand the Taoiseach's Parliamentary Secretary to say that there must be a period of approximately ten weeks between the passage of the Bill by both Houses of the Oireachtas, say, in the first week of March, and the holding of the referendum in the last week of May— approximately ten weeks? Did I correctly understand the answer to that effect?
Am I right in assuming that if the Taoiseach stands for election as President and is elected, he will select the chairman of the constituency commission?
Yes. He might be the chairman.
He might not be— and the Deputy knows that.
In certain circumstances.
That is why the President was put in.
It would have been quite different if this House had dealt differently with the Bill.
If we had abrogated our rights.
And our functions.
Question No. 2.
The Minister for Finance is going to owe me £100.
Order!
I would not suggest that he would not pay his gambling debts.