The next business is the election of a Senator to fill a casual vacancy in the Seanad.
ELECTION OF SENATOR.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
Before the election is proceeded with we would like to know something of the gentlemen about to be proposed.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I am going to tell you that under our Standing Orders, in force at present, it is the duty of the proposer, the gentleman who nominates a candidate for a vacancy, to submit his full name, his address in writing, as well as the consent of the candidate that he will serve and act if elected. It is also the duty of the proposer to state the qualifications of the gentleman he nominates. In this particular case, I think very properly, the proposer and seconder have put forward a gentleman who represents practically the same interests as the retiring Senator represented. I think the members will agree with me, other things being equal, it is desirable that the interests which a retiring Senator represented when the Seanad was originally constituted should, as far as possible, be retained. In that connection I may say that the gentleman proposed for this particular vacancy is identified, to a large extent, with the same interests as the retiring Senator. There is only the one nomination for the vacancy. The gentleman proposed is Mr. William Cummins, of Newbridge, Co. Kildare. His qualifications are as follows:—Chairman Town Commissioners, Chairman Kildare Trades Council, Chairman North Kildare Irish National Teachers' Organisation; he was for many years associated with the Gaelic League, and officially conducted the first Gaelic League Choir established in Belfast; organised and judged at many of the Feis celebrations held throughout the country; acted as Secretary of An Fainne, and also as Secretary of Feiseanna in Counties Carlow, Kildare and Wicklow; acted as Professor of Irish Teachers' Course at Athy under the Board of Education.
Voting having taken place.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I have now to declare that Mr. William Cummins, having got the requisite majority, has been duly elected a member of the Seanad.