Before we proceed with public business I want to draw the attention of the Seanad to a matter concerning the procedure of the House and, to some extent, the privileges of Senators. Senators received this morning typed copies of a notice which opens in the following manner:—
The following notice of motion has to-day been handed in by Senators Wilson and O'Rourke and, by direction of the Cathaoirleach, will appear on the Order Paper for Friday next, the 16th October, 1931:—
"That, in the case of the Constitution (Amendment No. 17) Bill, 1931, the stages shall be proceeded with as follows:—
Then follow practically a series of closure motions. In the normal course of affairs under our Standing Orders five days' notice would be required. Motions that are to be placed on the Order Paper must reach the Clerk not later than 3 p.m. on the fifth preceding day. This particular notice refers to a matter which is to be brought up for discussion on Friday, which is only the fourth day. True it is that, with the permission of the Cathaoirleach, motions or amendments may be moved on shorter notice. One has to assume by the language of this notice that the Cathaoirleach did give permission that the notice should be sent out. This notice deals with a Bill of which no Senator, other than those Senators who are moving the notice, has any formal knowledge. It appears to me to be a gross breach of the machinery which governs the procedure in this House that such a motion should be put forward in this manner. We are given notice of certain procedure in connection with a Bill of which the Seanad, with the exception of perhaps two Senators, knows nothing. We have not been presented with copies of the Bill, and nobody knows what is in the Bill. The whole procedure is informal and I suggest that this notice should not be for one moment considered by the House. I ask whether, having regard to all the circumstances, you have consented to receive this notice as a valid notice in accordance with the Standing Orders.
