Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Jan 1973

Vol. 74 No. 1

Vacancy in Office of Cathaoirleach.

Clerk of the Seanad (Mr. J.C. McGowan Smyth)

De bhun BhuanOrdú 9 de na mBuan-Orduithe i dtaobh Gnó Phoiblí tá orm a chur in iúl don Seanad go bhfuair mé an litir seo a leanas:

Pursuant to Standing Order 9 of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business I have to report to the Seanad that I have received the following letter:

SEANAD ÉIREANN

BAILE ÁTHA CLIATH, 2.

(Dublin, 2.)

1st January, 1973.

Dear Mr. Smyth,

Owing to my membership, as from today, of the Parliament of the European Communities, I am afraid that I must ask you to notify Seanad Éireann of my resignation from the office of Cathaoirleach. I take this step with great regret, but it would be impossible for me under these new circumstances to give to the office the time and application that it requires.

During the three years during which I have had the honour of presiding over the deliberations of the Seanad, I was fortunate in receiving the greatest courtesy and consideration from Senators. I am grateful to them for all their kindness.

In addition, I cannot speak too highly of the ever ready and always reliable advice and help that I received from you yourself as Clerk of the Seanad, from the Clerk-Assistant and from the other members of the staff of Oireachtas Éireann.

I remain,

Yours sincerely,

MÍCHEÁL YEATS

Mr. J. C. McGowan Smyth,

Clerk of the Seanad,

Leinster House,

Dublin 2.

Mr. O'Higgins

Is the letter from the former Cathaoirleach open to comment at this stage? We did not get the opportunity at the last meeting of the Seanad to record our appreciation of the work of Senator Yeats while he occupied the position of Cathaoirleach of the Seanad. On behalf of my party and on my own behalf I should like to record sincerely that we considered that Senator Yeats, as Chairman of this assembly during the three years in which he held the office, acted impartially and with fairness and firmness towards all parties in this House. In the letter which the Clerk has read out, Senator Yeats was good enough to express his appreciation of the consideration shown to him by Members of the Seanad.

All of us could say that, whether we transgressed the rules of order or not, we received the utmost consideration at the hands of Senator Yeats as Cathaoirleach. On behalf of the Fine Gael Party and myself I should like to record our appreciation of the manner in which he performed his duty while he held the post of Cathaoirleach of this House.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

Under Standing Order No. 9 it is now necessary that an Order be made fixing a date for the election of the Cathaoirleach.

Tomás Ó Maoláin

It is desirable that the Seanad should proceed to the election of a Cathaoirleach as soon as possible and for that purpose I propose 5 o'clock this evening.

Agreed.