In accordance with the Standing Orders, I wish to ask the permission of the Seanad to move a motion of urgency, also dealing with the question of housing. The motion I wish to move is in connection with the decision of the Government to withdraw the Housing Grant from the Dublin Corporation. It is a matter of great urgency, and I wish the permission of the Seanad to move it.

The Standing Order dealing with this matter has already been adopted. I will read it:—"Provided that, by permission of An Cathaoirleach, and by leave of the House, urgent motions may be discussed on shorter notice." That is to say, we could dispense with notice altogether. It would be sufficient compliance, for instance, if notice were given by a Senator to the effect that at the end of the business he would move this motion. The question now before us is one that I will not take the responsibility of ruling out, but I will leave it to the Seanad, and the motion is whether it is the wish of the Seanad that leave be given to Senator Farren to move the motion which he has just read, and I will ask Senators in favour of that to say "Tá," and of the contrary opinion "Nil."

The question having been put,

I really cannot myself say where the majority lies, and there is rather a difficulty in consequence arising out of a point to which we have come now. This point arises for the first time, and it is whether the leave of the Seanad means the unanimous permission or the permission by a majority. I should be myself inclined to hold that it means a majority. If Senator Farren wishes, I will take a division.

Yes, if I do not get unanimous permission, I will call for a division. It is a matter of public urgency.

The Senators will understand now that a vote is being taken on the question whether leave is to be given to discuss this matter on notice shorter than would be required by the Standing Orders.

I think there are several members of the Seanad who do not realise what the motion is. Some have come in late, and if the motion were explained I think it would be enlightening.

The motion speaks for itself. The object of it is to ask the Government to reconsider the decision with which we must assume we are all familiar, because it was published in the daily Press, i.e., that in view of the action of the Corporation in voting half wages to their workpeople who are at present interned in prison by order of the Free State, the Government has declared that it will withhold, so long as they maintain this attitude, the housing grant. The object of Senator Farren's motion is to reconsider and rescind that resolution.