Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Jul 1932

Vol. 15 No. 27

Statement in Dáil by Minister for Finance.

Mr. O'Hanlon

Before the business of the day is proceeded with, I should like to draw attention, through the Chair, to a matter which affects the privileges of this House. On Thursday night week we received by telegram a notice to attend a meeting of the Seanad on the following morning at 11.30. At that meeting we considered the final stages of the Finance (Customs Duties) (No. 2) Bill. On that very same day Dáil Eireann was sitting and, while Deputies were considering the guillotine motion preparatory to putting the Emergency Bill through its remaining stages, the Minister for Finance made the following statement:

.... I do not wish to say anything about the other House and I am not going to. They are taking steps to-day to rectify their mistakes... (Official Debates, Dáil Eireann, 15th July, col. 1093).

The mistake which was made, and to which I think the Minister was then referring, was a mistake which arose in the Minister's own Department. It was a mistake for which this House was in no way responsible. In face of the known facts the Minister should, I think, withdraw that statement. In all the circumstances the statement made in the Dáil by the Minister was entirely unwarranted.

Minister for Posts and Telegraphs (Mr. Connolly)

I am glad that Senator O'Hanlon has drawn my attention to this matter. He has read out of the Official Debates a statement made by the Minister for Finance. We all know the circumstances were as stated by Senator O'Hanlon. Whatever the mistake was, it was not made in this House. At such short notice I am not in a position to speak either for the Minister for Finance or on the point of view expressed by Senator O'Hanlon. If the facts are as stated by the Senator, I certainly think it is up to me, as a member of the Executive, to withdraw such a statement. Wherever the mistake occurred it did not occur in this House. Accordingly, on behalf of the Minister for Finance, I will withdraw the statement. I will convey the expressions of Senator O'Hanlon to the Minister.

Mr. O'Hanlon

I accept the Minister's withdrawal.

Cathaoirleach

I am glad that Senator Connolly has taken that course. Obviously, there was some grave misstatement on the part of the Minister for Finance. When we were discussing this Bill Senator Connolly pointed out specifically that some Department was in error and he showed that we were not. Why the Minister for Finance should have fallen into such a grave mistake, I cannot imagine.

Mr. Connolly

I am assuming that everything that Senator O'Hanlon has said is correct.

Cathaoirleach

Quite so. I have the Official Debates here and the whole statement made by the Minister for Finance was:

As a matter of fact I do not wish to say anything about the other House and I am not going to. They are taking steps to-day to rectify their mistakes, and the only thing we want to know is whether the Opposition in this House are in the position that they are going to hold up the financial business of this House...

Mr. Connolly

I assume that specifically applies to the Imposition of Duties Bill. There were many matters being discussed in the Dáil at that time.

Cathaoirleach

The members of the Dáil were then dealing with that Bill.

Mr. McEllin

I take it we are discussing matters of procedure?

Cathaoirleach

Not of procedure, but rather matters that affect the dignity of the House.

Mr. McEllin

On the last occasion when we met an official of the House proposed a special motion to postpone the consideration of the Bill until next Autumn. That official is the Vice-Chairman of this House. Is it in order for an official of the House to obstruct the wishes of the Government and to act also as a teller for a particular Party in connection with that same matter?

Cathaoirleach

That question does not arise on the matter under discussion.

Mr. Douglas

In connection with a matter which has been discussed already, I think it would be right to draw the attention of the public generally to the position we are in with regard to Finance Bills. It is not the first time that a similar difficulty has arisen, but it is the first time that we have been accused of making mistakes. The fact is that 21 days are provided for discussion by the Seanad. If a Bill comes to us from the other House and the 21 days are not provided before financial provisions should become law the fault is not ours.