Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 12 Dec 1923

Vol. 2 No. 7

ELECTION OF LEAS-CHATHAOIRLEACH

The EARL of MAYO

Now, sir, that you have been elected unanimously by the Seanad to occupy the position of Chairman, it falls to me to propose the election of a Deputy-Chairman, and I beg to propose the name of Senator Douglas. He has helped our Chairman in many ways, and the least of his duties has been to preside at our Senate. In the late troublous times he never hesitated to go out to Glenavy at all times and at all seasons to consult with our Chairman. Those were dangerous times, and nobody knows it better than our Chairman and Senator Douglas. You have heard from our Chairman that he considers Mr. Douglas a good business man and quite capable of carrying out the duties of Deputy-Chairman.

I was present the other day at a Committee called for the purpose of deciding whether our Parliament was to enter the inter-Parliamentary Union. Senator Douglas, I am sorry to say, was the only Deputy who attended at Copenhagen. I must point out to the Seanad that this was the first time that Ireland was represented at an inter-Parliamentary Conference as a Free State. At that Committee Senator Douglas made a very interesting statement. He had a difficult task to perform, but he upheld his country with dignity and, I may say, with common-sense in every possible way. Our status as a Free State was respected by all nations assembled at Copenhagen. We have to thank, and I say it without contradiction, Senator Douglas for doing that. In conclusion, I wish to say that I thank, and I am sure every Senator will agree with me, Senator Douglas for what he has done. Our Chairman has told us that he would make a very good Deputy Chairman, and I therefore beg to move that he be re-elected to that position.

Mr. O'FARRELL

I beg to second the motion, and I wish to confirm what Senator the Earl of Mayo has stated to the effect that Senator Douglas's chief work for the Seanad has been away from the limelight, that he has gone to very considerable trouble and personal expense in building up Standing Orders, both in regard to ordinary business and to Private Bill legislation. There is one important factor which should not be overlooked, and it is this, that under the Standing Orders governing Private Bill legislation these Bills will be initiated in the Seanad, and the Deputy-Chairman is to preside at the Committee and over the work in connection with that part of legislation. It will require a man fully conversant with the very voluminous and intricate Standing Orders to discharge that duty efficiently. Personally, while not overlooking the qualifications of other members of the Seanad, I venture to say that there is hardly any Senator more fitted than he to discharge that duty. I hope we will recognise his past services, and in justice to ourselves and in justice to the efficient working of the Seanad, we will re-elect him unanimously.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

Does any Senator wish to propose any other candidate? I now put the motion formally to the Seanad.

Motion put and agreed to.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH

I have pleasure in declaring that Senator Douglas has been unanimously re-elected Deputy-Chairman.

Mr. DOUGLAS

It is not necessary for me, I think, to add anything, except briefly to state my appreciation of the honour which has been again conferred upon me. You, sir, stated that you had done your best. I cannot claim that my best was a great deal, but I can honestly claim that my best, such as it was, was given to the work entrusted to me. I cannot claim any great qualifications, but I will say this: I believed whole-heartedly in the Treaty. I still believe whole-heartedly in it, and I believe that this Seanad is intended to take a useful, important and invaluable place in the life of this nation, and it is my desire to endeavour, whether I hold office or whether I do not, to try and maintain the position and dignity of the Seanad and to help it to fulfil the place which in the Constitution it was intended to fulfil. I did not seek the position at the beginning, and I did not again seek it, but I allowed my name to go forward, because so many Senators, whose character and ability I respect, pressed me to do so. I should like to thank all members of the Seanad. While I am quite conscious that in many ways I have not satisfied the requirements of the office, I feel deeply grateful for the honour of being elected to this position unanimously.