Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1937 > Special Committee on the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Bill, 1937 > Special Report - Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Bill, 1937 together with the proceedings of the Special Committee

IMEACHTA AN CHOISTE SPEISIALTA.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

Déardaoin, 11adh Mí na Samhna, 1937.

Thursday, 11th November, 1937.

1. The Committee met at 5.15 p.m.

2. Present: The President of the Executive Council (in the Chair); the Minister for Industry and Commerce; the Minister for Agriculture; the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance; Deputies Anthony, Costello, Dillon, Kissane, McGilligan, Moore, Norton, W. O’Brien, J. M. O’Sullivan and Smith.

3. The Minutes of the previous meeting were signed.

4. It was directed that letters received from the Minister for Industry and Commerce and Deputy McGilligan, in reference to proposals for Vocational Registers, be attached to the Minutes.

5. A general discussion on the subject matter of the letters, and on subjects discussed at previous meetings of the Committee, ensued.

Eventually, it was agreed that the deliberations of the Committee should be brought to a conclusion and that a Draft Special Report, to be prepared by the Chairman, should be circulated for consideration at the next meeting. It was thought that it would save time at the final meeting if, before that meeting, the Chairman submitted his draft to a sub-Committee consisting of the Chairman, the Minister for Industry and Commerce, Deputy McGilligan and Deputy Norton. It was decided that this course should be adopted accordingly.

6. The Committee adjourned at 6.35 p.m. until 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday next.

(Signed) EAMON DE VALÉRA,

Chairman.

ANNEX F.

Letters from the Minister for Industry and Commerce and Deputy McGilligan (referred to in paragraph 4 above).

Roinn Tionnscail agus Tráchtála

(Department of Industry and Commerce)

9th November, 1937.

A Chara,

At the meeting of the Committee on Thursday last I undertook to consider the submission of proposals for the preparation of Vocational Registers for the election of Senators.

From my consideration of this matter, I am of opinion that it is not practicable to arrange for the establishment of such Registers in the time available for the election of the first Senate under the new Constitution.

Furthermore, I am very doubtful if it will be found possible to create satisfactory Vocational Registers at any time unless and until there has been a considerable development of vocational organisation amongst the public.

I have to inform you, therefore, that I will have no proposals for the establishment of such Registers for submission to the Committee at its next meeting.

(Signed) SEÁN F. LEMASS,

Aire Tionnscail agus Tráchtála.

Secretary,

Special Committee on the Senate (Panel Members) Bill,

Leinster House,

Dublin.

Leinster House,

Dublin.

9th November, 1937.

Proposals for electing a Senate vocationally.

A Chara,

At a meeting of the Committee on the 4th instant I offered to submit certain modifications of the proposals already made by me in reference to the above subject matter. The following are the modifications, with some further observations:—

1. The following paragraphs of my memorandum are to stand, namely, paragraphs 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 13 and 14. In paragraph 9 it may be desirable to separate primary, from post-primary teachers. The first three sentences of paragraph 13 have to be omitted. Paragraphs 10, 11 and 12 are replaced by the proposals set out below. Paragraph 13 to be retained for want of a better method.

2. Agricultural Panel.

(1) Members of County Councils, voting on principles of proportional representation, to elect six Senators.

(2) The Irish Livestock Exporters’ Association to elect one Senator.

(3) The I.A.O.S. and similar bodies to elect one Senator.

(4) Beet growers and grain growers associations to elect one Senator.

(5) Fishery associations to elect one Senator.

Note: As regards Nos. 2 to 5 of the foregoing, it is a matter for more detailed consideration whether members of the associations or members of the governing bodies are the more suitable to exercise the right of election.

Labour Panel.

Senators to be elected by the delegates who were accredited to the most recent T.U.C.

Industry and Commerce.

Members of Chambers of Commerce or of the Associated Chambers of Commerce to elect two Senators.

The Federation of Irish Industries and the National Agricultural and Industrial Development Association to elect two Senators.

Engineers and architects to form a Register with the right of electing one Senator.

Accountants. Duly qualified and registered accountants to elect one Senator.

Bank directors and members of the Stock Exchange to elect one Senator.

3. These suggestions are intended to be by way of general indication of a method of constituting a Senate elected vocationally whilst avoiding large Registers and complicated machinery. They are to be regarded only as general suggestions.

The foregoing remarks apply even to the numbers suggested in connection with each Register; thus, the proposals do not exhaust the whole number of 43 or the numbers assigned in the Bill to each panel. Any lacunae can be easily filled up if the general proposals are found acceptable, and as a result of further discussion.

(Signed) P. McGILLIGAN.

Secretary,

Special Committee on the Senate (Panel Members) Bill,

Leinster House,

Dublin.