I beg to move:—
"That having regard to the importance of wireless telegraphy both for navigation and for commercial purposes, the Seanad requests the Executive Council and the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs and for Industry and Commerce, to establish wireless direction finding stations on the South Irish coast."
This subject has been brought very prominently before the minds of the people of the country in the South of Ireland by the dreadful disaster that happened a few weeks ago off the coast of the County Cork in the loss of the "Cardiff Hall," when every life on board was sacrificed. During the last year there has been a great increase in wireless telegraphy not only throughout the British Isles but throughout the world. Of course, the main object in the establishment of these stations as suggested is to increase the safety of navigation and to minimise the risks and to reduce the loss of life caused by accident.
There is not a single direction finding station in the Irish Free State. Wireless broadcasting stations exist, but no direction finding stations, which would be invaluable to navigation coming across the ocean. These stations have been found invaluable off the coast of America in communicating with ships and signalling from shore, giving the exact position of the vessel in a fog or in other case of danger. In view of the interest that some Senators so patriotically take in the tourist traffic, and having regard to the grist it would bring to the mill and prosperity to the country, I am sure the Seanad will cordially agree with the sentiments expressed in the resolution. We have reason to believe that the Postal Department, which is presided over by my friend, the senior member for Cork, Deputy J.J. Walsh, is worked with great efficiency at the present time, and the installation of such a station, controlled by the Government, off the south coast of Ireland would be a valuable asset.