SEANAD RESUMES. - INTERPRETATION OF THE CONSTITUTION.
I beg to move:—"That the report of the Committee on matters affecting the interpretation of the Constitution be adopted, that the Standing Orders be altered accordingly and that the Committee of Selection be requested to nominate seven Senators to serve on the Committee of Procedure.
The report has been before the Members of the Seanad for some time. They knew its effect, and it is, therefore, not necessary for me to go into it.
Comment on this
The motion is that the report of the Committee be adopted, that the consequential changes be made in the Standing Orders, and then that the matter be referred to the Selection Committee for the purpose of nominating members for the committee referred to in the report.
Comment on this
I propose, as an amendment, that the Committee for the current year be appointed at once.
Comment on this
On a point of order, what the Senator is proposing is included in the motion just moved by Senator Browne.
Comment on this
I do not think that Senator Browne's motion is in agreement with the amendment that I have proposed.
Comment on this
Senator Browne moved that the report be adopted, and that the consequential changes in the Standing Orders be effected, and that the matter be referred to the Committee of Selection to nominate the members of the new Committee.
Comment on this
That is not my amendment at all. My amendment is that the new Committee be appointed by the whole Seanad now.
Comment on this
That is a very unusual kind of resolution: that the new Committee should be appointed at once.
Comment on this
I do not believe that you can move that they be appointed now, Senator Colonel Moore. If you leave it as it is the names will be before the House next Wednesday, and you can accept or alter them as you think fit.
Comment on this
We know that if the Committee recommends a certain thing it will be done. I propose it should be done by the Seanad now.
Comment on this
Your course would be to give notice of motion for Wednesday next, that this Committee be nominated by the Seanad as a whole, and without reference to the Selection Committee. I suggest to you that you are departing from our practice. What use the Selection Committee would be if it is not available for purposes of this kind, I fail to understand.
Comment on this
I believe it is always considered quite regular that the Selection Committee only appoints.
Comment on this
They only send forward the names. It will be open to any Senator in the House to move that A.B be substituted for C.D.
Comment on this
I think Senator Colonel Moore is right. The Selection Committee really appoints them; I think it would meet the Senator's point of view if Senator Browne's motion was made to read, not to nominate, but to suggest, the names, and, then, on Wednesday next the question of the election would be before the House.
Comment on this
What I had in mind was that they should select the names, and when they come before the Seanad on Wednesday, the Seanad will agree or reject them as they think fit. Senator Colonel Moore's motion would then be in order.
Comment on this
When will the operations of the new Committee begin, and will the old Committee still remain functioning?
Comment on this
The new Committee has nothing to do with the Standing Orders. It will function when it is appointed.