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Dáil Éireann - Volume 294 - 23 November, 1976 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Áras an Uachtaráin Visits. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley 1. Mr. O'Malley asked the Taoiseach the number of occasions since his appointment in March, 1973, that he visited Áras an Uachtaráin for the purposes of carrying out his duty under Article 28. 5.2 of the Constitution during the pesidencies of the late Éamon de Valera, the late Erskine H. Childers and Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh. The Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave The Taoiseach: Pursuant to Article 28. 5 2 of the Constitution, I visited President de Valera once, President Childers five times and President Ó Dálaigh four times. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: Does the Taoiseach consider that that rather scanty number of visits for that purpose suffices to comply with his duty under Article 28. 5. 2 of the Constitution in view of the fact that the period in question was approximately three years and eight months? The Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave The Taoiseach: As the Deputy will appreciate, there is not any specific requirement in the Constitution obliging visits to the President. The Article states that the Taoiseach shall keep the President generally informed of matters of domestic and international policy. There is not any specific requirement that that has to be done by means of a visit. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley 430 Mr. O'Malley: Will the Taoiseach tell the House if these visits were specifically for the purpose of complying [430] with his duty under Article 28. 5. 2 or were the visits at least partially for other purposes? For example, were they for the purpose of accompanying judges on their appointment or accompanying ambassadors or for other such reasons? The Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave The Taoiseach: I excluded all other visits in the reply. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: Were these visits specifically for this purpose alone? The Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave The Taoiseach: They were specifically excluding other purposes. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: Will the Taoiseach please explain what that means? The Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave The Taoiseach: It means what it says. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: With the greatest respect to the Taoiseach, it scarcely seems to say anything at all. The Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave The Taoiseach: As I have told the Deputy, there is no requirement that a visit should be made. The Deputy has introduced visits for other purposes. In fact, on looking back through the visits of my predecessor in the 15 months from 1972 to the first quarter of 1973 he visited the then President on four occasions. There does not appear to be a great variation in the number of visits as distinct from attendance on other occasions such as the appointment of judges and so on. Mr. J. Lynch Mr. J. Lynch Mr. J. Lynch: Where did the Taoiseach get that statistic? The Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave The Taoiseach: From the records. Mr. J. Lynch Mr. J. Lynch Mr. J. Lynch: I kept no records of my visits. The Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave The Taoiseach: Apparently the office did. Mr. J. Lynch Mr. J. Lynch Mr. J. Lynch: They did not know of every occasion—— The Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave The Taoiseach: In any event, I am giving consideration to this. The House will appreciate that when this practice was initiated a long time ago the method of informing the President on public matters was very limited compared with what it is nowadays. 431 [431] It is possible that the idea of visits in the original concept is somewhat out of date. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: Did the Taoiseach discuss international and domestic policy with the three Presidents on the occasions of these visits? The Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave The Taoiseach: I do not propose to disclose what I discussed. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: Is it not open to the House, therefore, to come to the conclusion that the Taoiseach did not carry out his duty under Article 28.5.2? The Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave The Taoiseach: There is no obligation to disclose to the House what I discussed. I am sure that the Deputy on reflection will appreciate that it would be quite wrong for the Taoiseach to give an ex parte version of what was discussed. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: I asked the Taoiseach in general terms if he discussed, in the words of the Constitution, matters of domestic and international policy with the three Presidents concerned. The Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave The Taoiseach: In general terms I complied with the constitutional requirement. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: In very general terms indeed. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: I am calling Question No. 2. Mr. Coughlan Mr. Coughlan Mr. Coughlan: Would the Taoiseach consider amending the Constitution to abolish the Presidency—— An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: That is a separate question. I have called Question No. 2. Mr. Coughlan Mr. Coughlan Mr. Coughlan: It serves no useful purpose and the expenditure involved could be used to much better advantage. Dáil Éireann 294 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. Áras an Uachtaráin Visits. Questions 19761123
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