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Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Friday, 18 Aug 1944

Vol. 29 No. 1

Election of Cathaoirleach.

Tairgim:

Go dtoghfar an Seanadóir Seán Ó Guilidhe mar Chathaoirleach agus go rachaidh sé i gceannas an tSeanaid anois.

Ní gá dhom mórán a rá chun an rún seo a mholadh. "Molann an obair an fear" agus an obair atá déanta aige mar Chathaoirleach molann sí é, gan trácht ar an obair a bhí déanta aige roimhe sin ar son tíre agus teangan.

Ó bhí sé ina ghasúr is mór an obair a rinne sé agus is mór an rath a rinne sé don tír. Ar an ábhar sin, tá an post seo tuillte aige. Tá mé cinnte go mbeidh gach uile Sheanadóir a bhí anseo sa bhliain seo caite, go mbeidh siad sásta é bheith sa chathaoir anois.

Rinne sé a chuid oibre go cneasta, go cúramach agus go héifeachtach. Thug sé cothrom na féinne do gach uile dhuine agus do gach dream. Ar an ábhar sin, tá mé cinnte go mbeidh na Seanadóirí sásta é bheith ina Chathaoirleach arís.

I wish to recommend to the Seanad, in the few words which I feel will only be necessary, the election of Senator Seán Goulding to the Chair. The Senators who were here last year know how effectively he did his work, with what dignity and fairness he carried out his duties, ably assisted by Senator Michael Tierney, whose absence I personally regret. The Chair in this House was filled in a worthy manner and carried on a tradition which was associated with the former Chairman, Senator Seán Gibbons. Everybody got a fair hearing. Senator Goulding, like his predecessor, was patient and helpful with us all and he had the help, which I think we all appreciate, of the Clerk and the Assistant Clerk. The conduct of this House was carried on in a way that did credit to us all and did credit to the nation. I hope there will be an unanimous vote for the re-election of Senator Seán Goulding.

Tá bród agus ríméad ormsa cuidiú leis an tairgsin atá déanta ag an Seanadóir Bean Uí Choncheannainn, sé sin, go dtoghfar an Seanadóir Seán O Guilidhe mar Chathaoirleach ar an Seanad. Is fear é an Seanadóir O Guilidhe a bhfuil togha na Gaeilge aige; tá an teanga aige ó dhúchas, ó bhí sé ina ghasúr, agus ina cheann sin tá uaisleacht na nGael ag baint leis. Dá bharr sin, is fear é a bheireas cúram agus ceart do gach Seanadóir. Molaim, mar dúirt Bean Uí Choncheannainn, an obair atá déanta aige ar feadh na bliana seo caite. Ina cheann sin, molaim Seán O Maoileoin agus Pádraic O Caoimh, a bhí ina Rúnaithe ar an Seanad. Rinneamar ár ngnaithe chomh maith agus d'fhéadamar agus tá súil agam go mbeidh an cúnamh céanna againn sa téarma atá romhainn. Tá súil agam go nglacfar leis an tairgsin seo d'aonghuth mar sílim go bhfuil gach uile Sheanadóir sásta leis an gcaoi a ndearnadh an obair an feadh na bliana seo caite.

As I was a member of the last Seanad, I should like, on behalf of my colleagues, to say how much we appreciate the motion that is now before the House. So far as we are concerned, we are going to support that motion. Senator Goulding in the Chair in the last Seanad showed by his action, as stated by the mover of the motion, that he is a man well worthy to maintain the tradition of Cathaoirleach in the Seanad and, for that reason, I will support wholeheartedly the motion proposed by Senator Mrs. Concannon.

Ba mhaith liomsa aontú leis an rún atá os ár gcomhair. Tá mé cinnte agus tá mé sásta go bhfuil gach uile Sheanadóir anso a bhí anso anuiridh sásta an Seanadóir O Guilidhe do bheith mar Chathaoirleach ar an Seanad anois. Dhein sé a ghnó go cruinn agus go cúramach agus tá mé sásta nach bhfuil aon chúis gearáin ag éinne a bhí anso anuiridh fén gCathaoirleach. Tá mé sásta leis, os rud é go bhfuil ainmneacha an Chléirigh agus an Leas-Chléirigh os ár gcomhair, a rá go bhfuil aithne agam ar an mbeirt acu agus gur mór an onóir don tSeanad an tslí a bhfuil an gnó déanta anso. Ní dóigh liom gur ceart dom labhairt in aon chor i mBéarla mar, tá súil agam do bhfeicfimíd an lá ná beidh aon Bhéarla in aon chor á labhairt anso. Aontaím leis an Rún.

Question—"That Senator Seán Goulding be elected and do now take the Chair of the Seanad as Cathaoirleach"—put by the Clerk and agreed to unanimously.
Whereupon Senators rose in their places and remained standing while the Cathaoirleach proceeded to the Dais.
Standing beside the Chair, theCathaoirleach said:—
Is mór an onóir atá sibh a thabhairt dom, a Sheanadóirí, mé thoghadh mar Chathaoirleach agus táim an-bhuíoch díbh ina thaobh.
Níl le rá agam ach go ndéanfad gach ní atá im chumas obair an tSeanaid a dhéanamh chomh maith agus is féidir liom.
Geallaim díbh, leis, go ndéanfad mo dhícheall chun ceart agus cóir a thabhairt do gach Seanadóir agus tá súil agam ná tabharfad aon chúis gearáin d'éinne an fhaid a bhead im Chathaoirleach.
I appreciate very highly indeed the honour the Seanad has again conferred on me in electing me Cathaoirleach, and, with the co-operation which has always been extended to me, I sincerely hope that I will justify the trust which my fellow Senators are now reposing in me. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.
Barr
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