Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 May 1970

Vol. 68 No. 3

Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries.

An Cathaoirleach

Fuarthas scéala ó Roinn an Taoisigh maidir le (a) Micheál Ó Móráin agus Caoimhghín Ó Beoláin d'éirí as oifig, agus Niall Bléine agus Cathal Ó hEochaidh a chur as oifig, mar chomhaltaí den Rialtas, agus (b) Deasún Ó Máille, Diarmaid Ó Cróinín, Riobárd Ó Maoildhia and Gearóid Ó Coileáin a cheapadh chun bheith ina gcomhaltaí den Rialtas.

Fuarthas scéala ón Roinn freisin le Daithí Mac Aindriú, Mícheál Ó Ceit, Liam Mac Cuinneagáin, Seán Ó Fathaigh agus Mícheál Ó Cinnéide a cheapadh mar Rúnaithe Parlaiminte agus maidir le Pádraig Ó Braonáin d'éirí as oifig mar Rúnaí Parlaiminte.

Tá treoracha tugtha agam na litreacha dar thagair mé a leagan amach sa ghnáthshlí i gCín Lae Imeachtaí an tSeanaid. De bharr an fhógra seo cuirfear i gcló iad freisin i dTuairisc Oifigiúil na nDíospóireachtaí.

Communications have been received from the Department of the Taoiseach in relation to (a) the resignation of Michael Moran and Kevin Boland, and the termination of the appointment of Neil T. Blaney and Charles J. Haughey as members of the Government, and (b) the appointment of Des O'Malley, Jerry Cronin, Robert Molloy and Gerard Collins as members of the Government.

Communications have also been received from the Department in relation to the apointment as Parliamentary Secretaries of David Andrews, Michael Kitt, Liam Cunningham, John Fahey and Michael O'Kennedy and the resignation as Parliamentary Secretary of Paudge Brennan.

I have given directions to have the letters referred to set out in the usual manner in the Journal of the House. Consequent on this announcement they will also be printed in the Official Report of Debates.

Litreacha ó Roinn an Taoisigh ar thagair An Cathaoirleach dóibh:

Letters from the Department of the Taoiseach referred to by An Cathaoirleach.

S. 18368.

4 Bealtaine, 1970.

Cléireach an tSeanaid.

Tá orm a chur in iúl duit go bhfuil an tUachtarán, ag gníomhú dó ar chomhairle an Taoisigh, tar éis glacadh inniu de bhun Airteagail 28.9.3º den Bhunreacht le

Micheál Ó Móráin

(Michael Moran)

d'éirí as oifig mar chomhalta den Rialtas le héifeacht ón 5 Bealtaine, 1970.

N. S. Ó Nualláin,

Rúnaí.

S. 18368.

7 Bealtaine, 1970.

Cléireach an tSeanaid.

Tá orm a chur in iúl duit

(1) go bhfuil an tUachtarán, ar ainmniú an Taoisigh, le comhaontú Dháil Éireann roimh ré, tar éis

Deasún Ó Máille

(Des O'Malley)

comhalta de Dháil Éireann, a cheapadh inniu, de bhun Airteagal 13.1.2º den Bhunreacht, chun bheith ina chomhalta den Rialtas; agus

(2) go bhfuil an Taoiseach, i bhfeidhmiú na gcumhacht a bheirtear dó le halt 4 den Acht Airí agus Rúnaithe (Leasú), 1946, inniu tar éis an Roinn Dlí agus Cirt a shannadh don Uasal Ó Máille le héifeacht ón lá inniu.

N. S. Ó Nualláin,

Rúnaí.

S. 18368

7 Bealtaine, 1970.

Cléireach an tSeanaid.

Tá orm a chur in iúl duit go ndearna an tUachtarán inné, ar chomhairle an Taoisigh.

Niall Bléine

(Neil T. Blaney)

Cathal Ó hEochaidh

(Charles J. Haughey)

a chur as oifig mar chomhaltaí den Rialtas le héifeacht ón 7 Bealtaine,

Caoimhghín Ó Beoláin

1970, agus gur ghlac an tUachtarán, ar chomhairle an Taoisigh, le

(Kevin Boland)

d'éirí as oifig mar chomhalta den Rialtas le héifeacht ón 7 Bealtaine, 1970.

N.S. Ó Nualláin,

Rúnaí.

S. 18368.

11 Bealtaine, 1970.

Cléireach an tSeanaid.

Tá orm a chur in iúl duit

(1) go bhfuil an tUachtarán, ar ainmniú an Taoisigh, le comhaontú Dháil Éireann roimh ré, tar éis

Diarmaid Ó Cróinín

(Jerry Cronin),

Riobárd Ó Maoildhia

(Robert Molloy)

agus

Gearóid Ó Coileáin

(Gerard Collins),

comhaltaí de Dháil Éireann, a cheapadh an 9 Bealtaine, 1970, de bhun Airteagal 13.1.2º den Bhunreacht, chun bheith ina gcomhaltaí den Rialtas; agus

(2) go bhfuil an Taoiseach, an 9 Bealtaine, 1970, i bhfeidhmiú na gcumhacht a bheirtear dó le halt 4 den Acht Airí agus Rúnaithe (Leasú), 1946, tar éis

(a) sannadh na Roinne Tionscail agus Tráchtála do Sheoirse Ó Colla, na Roinne Cosanta do Shéamus Mac Giobúin agus na Roinne Poist agus Telegrafa do Phádraig Ó Leathlobhair a fhorcheannadh; agus

(b) na Ranna Stáit seo a leanas a shannadh do na comhaltaí den Rialtas a luaitear le héifeacht ón 9 Bealtaine, 1970:

an Roinn Leasa Shóisialaigh do Sheosamh Ó Braonáin, an tAire Saothair,

an Roinn Airgeadais do Sheoirse Ó Colla, Aire na Gaeltachta,

an Roinn Talmhaíochta agus Iascaigh do Shéamus Mac Giobúin,

an Roinn Tionscail agus Tráchtála do Phádraigh Ó Leathlobhair,

an Roinn Cosanta do Dhiarmaid Ó Cróinín,

an Roinn Rialtais Áitiúil do Roibeárd Ó Maoildhia

agus

an Roinn Poist agus Telegrafa do Ghearóid Ó Coileáin.

N. S. Ó Nualláin,

Rúnaí.

S. 18369.

8 Bealtaine 1970

Cléireach an tSeanaid

Tá orm a chur in iúl duit gur ghlac an Rialtas inniú leis an tairiscint éirí as oifig mar Rúnaí Parlaiminte an Aire Rialtais Áitiúil a rinne Pádraig Ó Braonáin, T.D. (Paudge Brennan, T.D.).

N. S. Ó Nualláin,

Rúnaí an Rialtais.

S. 18369.

7 Bealtaine 1970.

Cléireach an tSeanaid.

Tá orm a chur in iúl duit go ndearna an Rialtas an 5ú lá den mhí seo, ar ainmniú an Taoisigh,

Daithí Mac Aindriú, T.D.

(David Andrews, T.D.),

a cheapadh chun oifig Rúnaí Parlaiminte an Taoisigh agus an Aire Cosanta le héifeacht ón 8 Bealtaine, 1970.

N. S. Ó Nualláin,

Rúnaí an Rialtais.

S. 18369

11 Bealtaine, 1970.

Cléireach an tSeanaid.

Tá orm a chur in iúl duit go bhfuil an Rialtas, ar ainmniú an Taoisigh, tar éis gach duine faoi leith acu seo a leanas a cheapadh an 8ú lá den mhí seo chun oifig an Rúnaí Parlaiminte a luaitear os coinne a ainm le héifeacht ón 9 Bealtaine, 1970:

Mícheál Ó Ceit, T.D.	Rúnaí Parlaiminte Aire na Gaeltachta.
(Michael Kitt, T.D.).
Liam Mac Cuinneagáin, T.D.	Rúnaí Parlaiminte an Aire Rialtais Áitiúil.
(Liam Cunningham, T.D.),
Seán Ó Fathaigh, T.D.	Rúnaí Parlaiminte an Aire Talmhaíochta agus Iascaigh.
(John Fahey, T.D.),
agus
Mícheál Ó Cinnéide, T.D.	Rúnaí Parlaiminte an Aire Oideachais.
(Michael O'Kennedy, T.D.),
	N. S. Ó Nualláin,
	Rúnaí an Rialtais.

Mr. O'Higgins

Is the Cathaoirleach in a position to say if this House will be given an opportunity to discuss these communications?

An Cathaoirleach

That is a matter for the House.

Mr. O'Higgins

I should like to get your guidance. This is the first notification given to this House of changes in the Government and it seems to me that at some stage it would be desirable that this House should be given an opportunity of discussing not simply the changes, which concern the Dáil rather than this House in so far as the approval is obtained in the Dáil rather than in this House, but it seems that this House should be given an opportunity of discussing the events which brought these changes about and which have so badly shaken the people of the country. It is important that we, as a House of the Oireachtas, should have the right to discuss these matters. Perhaps the Leader of the House would give some intimation if it is intended to give the Seanad an opportunity of engaging in a discussion. If he cannot give such an intimation, I would ask you, Sir, to examine the situation to see whether, arising out of these communications, it is possible——

An Cathaoirleach

The Senator will appreciate that the communications are read merely for the information of the House and that no discussion or business arising out of them comes at this time before the House. Whether the House subsequently decides to discuss any matter is not a matter for the Chair but for the House to decide.

Mr. O'Higgins

Other Senators are more experienced than me in this field but, in some shape or form, these communications will be brought before the House. I should like to have an opportunity of moving that the communications be noted for the purpose of initiating a discussion on them.

An Cathaoirleach

It is, of course, open to the Senator to put down a motion in relation to the communications.

Mr. O'Higgins

This is the first indication, or intimation, that has been given officially to the Seanad that these changes are being made. If necessary, I am prepared at short notice to move now that the communications be noted and that I am prepared to speak on that motion.

An Cathaoirleach

There is nothing specifically in Standing Orders in relation to such a discussion. These communications are merely for information and nothing arises out of them. If the Senator wishes to put down a motion, that is another matter.

Dr. Sheehy Skeffington

Since the announcement does not appear on the Order of Business today it would seem to me that Senator O'Higgins would be quite in order in proposing a motion now, which similarly is not on the Order of Business, that these announcements be noted.

An Cathaoirleach

The Senator will appreciate that all motions are covered by Standing Orders and notice of motion must be given.

Mr. Horgan

In this context I wish to draw your attention to Standing Order 26 (1) and to ask your permission to introduce a motion, without notice, that the Seanad be adjourned in order to discuss the following definite matter of urgent public importance, that is, the implications for the country of what the Taoiseach has described as "a matter of national importance," involving the dismissal of two members of the Government and the impact of these events on our relationship with Northern Ireland.

When making your ruling on this, as you must do, I respectfully ask you to bear in mind that this matter has not in any way ceased to be urgent since it was debated at such length in the Dáil. There are some other people in this House who believe that it has become even more urgent since then. Indeed, as a discussion is going to take place in Stormont today on the debate in the Dáil I suggest that gives it an even greater sense of urgency. If we are not given an opportunity to discuss this matter today I submit a precedent will have been established which bodes very ill for institutional democracy in this House and in this country in future.

An Cathaoirleach

I thank the Senator for having given me as is the custom of the House prior notice of his intention to request to move the adjournment of the Seanad on a definite matter of urgent public importance. I have considered this matter carefully but I must rule in accordance with the precedent that the motion is not one contemplated by the Standing Order. This ruling is, of course, without prejudice to the right of the Senator or indeed any Senator to give notice of a motion in the usual way.

I should explain to the Senator that the matter which it is desired to raise under this Standing Order must be some sudden emergency as to be seen to be prima facie urgent and it must be of such a nature that a delay in discussing it might prevent effective action being taken.

Mr. Horgan

I accept the ruling of the Chair but reserve my right to put down a motion in similar terms.

Mr. Russell

Are Senators debarred by Standing Orders from discussing the import of the message the Chair has just read out until a subsequent day?

An Cathaoirleach

The message is purely for the information of the House and does not give rise to any discussion.

Miss Bourke

Is it the Chair's ruling that this is not a matter of national importance as described by the Taoiseach? If the point that Senator Horgan has made that the situation between the north and south is deteriorating, it may very well be that not to discuss it might prevent effective action being taken.

An Cathaoirleach

The urgency insisted on under the Standing Order must be such that, unless it is discussed without any notice being given, the delay in discussing it that would ensue by having to give notice in the usual way would prevent effective action being taken. I am ruling only that this is not that type of motion, not that it is not a matter of national importance. It is simply a matter that under Standing Orders it is not the type of emergency which would mean that something irretrievable would happen if it were not discussed today. It is open to any Senator to put down a motion.

Mr. Russell

Surely the fact that the British Prime Minister, Mr. Wilson, has called a general election in Great Britain and Northern Ireland has a significant bearing on whether it is of national importance or not? I submit the matter is one of urgent national importance and this House as an integral part of the Oireachtas should be permitted to discuss it.

Tomás Ó Maoláin

I suggest that the urgency of the present situation is determined by the Opposition in order to get as much propaganda value as possible. The Opposition do not give a damn about the North of Ireland.

Mr. O'Higgins

Would the Leader of the House explain what he means by "the present situation"?

Tomás Ó Maoláin

I mean the changes which have occurred in the membership of the Government. The idea behind the Fine Gael attempt to raise this matter here after marathon discussions in the Dáil and at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis is to get as much more propaganda as possible out of it by twisting, distorting and using the Six Counties and the sufferings of the people up there——

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Horgan

On a point of order, I am not a member of Fine Gael.