§ [PROPOSED MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT.]
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)I beg to ask leave to move the adjournment of the House in order to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance—namely, the refusal by the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland to consider favourably the memorial presented to them by the managers of 1,200 National schools in Ireland praying that in Irish-speaking disricts a bilingual system of education should be adopted, and that in other disitricts Irish should be taught as a remunerated subject in school hours.
§ * MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member has been good enough to hand me a copy of his motion, and I think that this is a question which I ought not to submit to the House under Standing Order No. 17 as one definite and of urgent importance. The alleged grievance is in itself rather a general and a continuing one than of sudden urgency. What, however, principally influences me is the fact that the First Lord of the Treasury has stated to the House that the Irish Education Estimates will be taken on Friday; and it is not only in accordance with the proper construction of the Standing Order, but in accordance with precedents, that where there is an almost immediate opportunity for discussing a matter of this kind that opportunity should not be anticipated. I feel bound, therefore, to say that I ought not to submit this motion to the House.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDI am sure, Mr. Speaker, that you will not think I desire to dispute your ruling in any way if I ask for permission to point out that only one remaining day is left for Irish Estimates. A new scheme of primary education covering a multitude of points must be discussed on that day, and it is impossible to hope that during one sitting of the House the whole of that scheme could be discussed, and, in addition, this grievance about the Irish language. Therefore, it is perfectly impossible that the Irish education scheme can be fully discussed. Upon a point of order, I respect- 94 fully submit that the possibility of a discussion taking place on some future date does not exclude this matter from the interpretation of the Standing Order, and I wish to call your attention, Mr. Speaker, to the interpretation which you have yourself given on this very point. On the 6th of April last you said †—
The Standing Order presents some difficulty in interpretation. When I came to the Chair I found the practice of the Speaker had been to deal with the question of definiteness himself.I wish to point out that this is not a general grievance, but a definite act— namely, the refusal of the Commissioners to accede to a particular memorial upon a particular point. You went on, upon the occasion I alluded to, to further state—But as regards the urgency and public importance of the subject they have practically always been left to the decision of the House by the rising of at least forty Members in their places. I say 'practically,' for certainly I do not understand that the Speaker is bound to put a question as one of urgency and of public importance if it is obviously ridiculous or frivolous, or so obviously unimportant that the Speaker ought not to put it.I submit that unless you, Mr. Speaker, take the view that this subject is "ridiculous or frivolous" it is in order under your ruling, which I have just quoted.
§ * MR. SPEAKEROn the occasion to which the hon. Member refers I was suddenly asked a general question, and I do not pretend that the words I used contained a considered or exhaustive definition of all the grounds upon which the question of leave to move should not be put from the Chair. The words "ridiculous and frivolous" were, probably, too strong. On the present occasion I have considered the matter carefully, and I must adhere to my ruling not to submit the motion for the adjournment to the House.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDIt is impossible for me to contest the matter further, although I am led to hope that an opportunity will be forthcoming. I beg to give notice that on the Second Reading of the Primary Education Bill I shall move—
That this House declines to give any additional powers to the Commissioners until they have amended their code of rules and regulations so as to provide for the teaching of Irish in the schools under their control.† See The Parliamentary Debates [Fourth Series], Vol. lxxxi, p. 1427