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Volume 9 1948~1951

Doc No.
Date
Subject

No. 451 NAI DFA/5/305/14/29

Memorandum for Government by the Department of External Affairs
'Attendance of Six County Representatives in Dáil or Seanad'

Dublin, 19 May 1950

  1. From newspaper reports, it appears that the Convention of the Anti-Partition League held in Belfast on the 12th May 1950 unanimously decided to seek the admission of the Six-county M.P.s and Senators to the Dáil and Seanad, and appointed a deputation to visit Dublin on this issue.
  2. The Minister for External Affairs considers that it would be of considerable assistance to the development of the Anti-Partition campaign if provisions were made to give the right of audience to representatives of the Six Counties in the Oireachtas. In particular, he considers it would be of value for the following reasons:-
    • Internationally, it would be an effective step for drawing attention to the question of Partition.
    • It would help to secure a greater degree of co-ordination and co-operation between the elected representatives of the Six Counties and members of the Oireachtas.
    • It would be the logical first step to take in order to convert our own Parliament into an all-Ireland Parliament.
    • It would be helpful to have the views of the Six County representatives on current legislation insofar as it might have a bearing on the reunification of Ireland.
  3. Provision for the admission of Six County Representatives in the Dáil and Seanad can be made by an amendment to the existing Standing Orders of either House. (See opinion of Attorney-General circulated by the Taoiseach's Department on the 14th March, 1949).1
  4. It will be recalled that the Government were in agreement in principle to the giving of a right of audience in the Seanad to the elected representatives of the Six County Parliament. While the Minister for External Affairs would have preferred that these should be admitted to An Dáil, it being the more important of the two Houses of the Oireachtas, he considers it desirable that, as an alternative, they should now be admitted to An Seanad.
  5. If the course suggested is adopted by the Government, three main questions would have to be decided by the Government:-
    • Will the admission be limited to those elected representatives who hold Anti-Partition views?
    • Will it include the representatives elected to represent the Six Counties in the British House of Commons?
    • Will the invitation include an invitation to the members of the Six County Senate?
      In regard to the first matter, the Minister for External Affairs is of the opinion that the invitation should issue to all the elected representatives, irrespective of their party affiliations. As regards the question of inviting those elected to attend Westminster, the Minister for External Affairs has no strong views, but on the balance would not include them in the invitation. As regards Six County Senators, the Minister for External Affairs would favour their admission to the Senate, if the elected representatives were admitted to the Dáil; otherwise, he considers that it would be difficult to admit them to the Senate with the elected representatives without drawing a line of distinction.
  6. Apart from whatever necessary amendment may have to be made to the Standing Orders and Rules of the Dáil, or the Seanad, as the case may be, it may be necessary to initiate legislation to give full effect to the Government view in the matter. Legislation will, in any event, be required to provide for the payment of travelling expenses and allowances. The Minister for External Affairs suggests that travelling expenses should be payable in the same manner as to members of the Oireachtas and that, instead of a fixed yearly allowance, an allowance of 5 gns. per day should be payable to each Six County member in respect of each day's attendance.
  7. If general agreement is reached on the main issues proposed, the Minister for External Affairs suggests that the matter should be referred to a committee consisting of:-
    • The Secretary, Department of the Taoiseach;
    • Mr. Philip O'Donoghue of the Attorney-General's Office;
    • Dr. Michael Rynne, Legal Advisor to the Department of External Affairs;
    • The Clerk of the Dáil;2
    • The Clerk of the Senate.3
      The function of this committee would be to draft legislation and amendments to the Standing Orders and Rules, that may be required to give effect to the Government's decision in the matter, and generally to advise on any other consequential steps that might become necessary.
  8. The Minister for External Affairs considers that an early decision and announcement on this question is very desirable.

1 See No. 292.

2 Mortimer O'Connell (1894-1956), Clerk of the Dáil (1948-56).

3 Michael Christie (1887-1971), Clerk of the Seanad (1950-53).

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