Can we find out anything about this and Michael Comyn. Commenting on the ugly scenes in the Seanad, this paper alleged that ‘The Minister for Defence wants to be able to present the Seanad with a fait accompli, and to talk about the Reserve as a highly successful and popular force’.80 Given that Blythe and the Government’s law advisors spent the previous days briefing the recently returned Fitzgerald about the Volunteers, there were good grounds for suspecting foul play.81 Either way, few Senators remained on hand to hear the chastisements of Michael Comyn of Fianna Fáil, who, delving back into the annals of British and European history, and without any hint of irony, warned that ‘If parliament neglects its duties, abrogates its powers, or derogates its authority, if members run away from meetings where the question is discussed, then, whatever may be said about political liberty, personal liberty is in danger, and the soil is being cultivated and prepared for the dictatorship which is to come.’82

The passage you provided refers to a historical moment in the Irish Seanad (the upper house of the Irish parliament) involving Michael Comyn, a Fianna Fáil politician, commenting on contentious debates surrounding the Reserve Defence Force in Ireland, likely during the early 1930s. Below, I’ll provide context and details about Michael Comyn, the political environment, and the specific issue of the Reserve Defence Force during this period, drawing on the available information and historical context.

Who Was Michael Comyn?

Michael Comyn (1871–1952) was a prominent Irish politician, barrister, and Fianna Fáil member who served as a Senator in the Irish Free State Seanad from 1928 to 1936. A staunch republican, Comyn was associated with Fianna Fáil, the party founded by Éamon de Valera in 1926, which came to power in 1932. Comyn was known for his outspoken views and his deep engagement with Irish history and republican ideals. He was also a supporter of Irish language and culture, reflecting the nationalist ethos of Fianna Fáil during this period.Context of the Seanad Debate and the Reserve Defence Force. The passage you’ve quoted appears to relate to debates in the early 1930s concerning the Irish Defence Forces and, specifically, the establishment of the Volunteer Force under Fianna Fáil’s Minister for Defence, Frank Aiken. The Volunteer Force was introduced in 1934 as a reserve component to bolster the regular army, but it was a politically charged initiative. Fianna Fáil, having come to power in 1932, faced suspicions from opponents, particularly those associated with the previous Cumann na nGaedheal government, that the Volunteer Force was a means to politicize the military by appointing Fianna Fáil loyalists to key roles.

• The Volunteer Force and Political Controversy: The Volunteer Force was created to supplement the regular Defence Forces, which were at a low ebb in the early 1930s due to budget constraints and a lack of investment under both Cumann na nGaedheal and early Fianna Fáil governments. Frank Aiken, as Minister for Defence, pushed for the Volunteer Force despite objections from the military’s General Staff, who saw it as politically motivated. Twenty-one Fianna Fáil supporters were appointed as Area Administrative Officers, and local committees (known as “Sluagh”) were established to support the units, leading to the derogatory nickname “Aiken’s Slugs.” The earlier Volunteer Reserve, set up by Cumann na nGaedheal in 1929, was disbanded by Fianna Fáil in 1935, further fueling accusations of political maneuvering.
• Seanad Tensions: The Seanad during this period was a contentious space, often dominated by former Unionists and pro-Treaty figures who were skeptical of Fianna Fáil’s republican agenda. The “ugly scenes” mentioned likely refer to heated debates or walkouts by Senators, possibly in response to the government’s handling of the Volunteer Force legislation or related military reforms. The reference to Ernest Blythe (a Cumann na nGaedheal figure) and Desmond FitzGerald (another pro-Treaty politician) briefing on the Volunteers suggests efforts to counter Fianna Fáil’s narrative or expose perceived overreach by the government.

Michael Comyn’s Comments

Comyn’s remarks, as quoted, reflect his concern about the erosion of parliamentary authority and the potential for authoritarianism. His warning about the dangers of a parliament neglecting its duties or “running away” from debates was a critique of the Seanad’s conduct during these discussions. By invoking “British and European history,” Comyn was likely drawing parallels to historical examples of parliaments ceding power to executives, leading to autocratic rule. His comment about preparing “the soil for dictatorship” may have been a rhetorical jab at the government’s opponents, accusing them of undermining democratic oversight, though it carries irony given Fianna Fáil’s own centralizing tendencies under de Valera.

• Fait Accompli: The allegation that the Minister for Defence (Frank Aiken) wanted to present the Seanad with a “fait accompli” suggests that Fianna Fáil was pushing the Volunteer Force as an already-decided policy, limiting parliamentary scrutiny. This was a common criticism of Fianna Fáil’s governance style, which sought to consolidate power and reduce the influence of institutions like the Seanad, which de Valera later abolished in 1936.
• Comyn’s Republican Perspective: As a Fianna Fáil Senator, Comyn’s defense of parliamentary authority aligned with the party’s broader narrative of asserting Irish sovereignty and resisting perceived remnants of British influence (e.g., the pro-Treaty leanings of Cumann na nGaedheal). His comments may also reflect Fianna Fáil’s efforts to legitimize the Volunteer Force as a popular and necessary measure to strengthen national defense, countering accusations of political bias.

The 1920s Connection.

Your query mentions the 1920s, but the context of the Volunteer Force and Fianna Fáil’s policies points to the early 1930s, specifically around 1934–1935, when the Volunteer Force was established and debated. In the 1920s, the Irish Free State was still grappling with the aftermath of the Civil War (1922–1923), and the Defence Forces were in their infancy. The Volunteer Reserve, established in 1929 by Cumann na nGaedheal, was a precursor to the Volunteer Force, but there’s no direct evidence from the provided sources linking Comyn or the Reserve to the 1920s specifically. If your query refers to earlier reserve or militia-like structures (e.g., the Irish Volunteers or Fianna Éireann), these were distinct from the later Defence Forces reserves and more tied to the revolutionary period (1913–1921).

Limitations and Further Research

The available sources do not provide a verbatim record of the Seanad debate or Comyn’s full speech, so the exact date and context of his remarks are unclear. The passage likely comes from a historical analysis or newspaper report, possibly from the Irish Independent or another contemporary outlet, given the reference to “this paper.” To pinpoint the exact debate, further research in the Seanad Éireann debates (available through the Oireachtas website or the Military Archives) or newspaper archives from 1934–1935 would be needed. The Military Archives’ Bureau of Military History or Fianna Éireann series might also contain relevant files on the Volunteer Force and its political implications.

Summary

Michael Comyn, a Fianna Fáil Senator, was a vocal figure in the Seanad during the early 1930s, a period marked by tensions over the Volunteer Force, a reserve component of the Irish Defence Forces introduced by Fianna Fáil in 1934. His comments in the Seanad, as quoted, criticized the government’s opponents for neglecting parliamentary duties, warning of the risks to personal liberty and the potential for dictatorship. These remarks likely arose during debates about the Volunteer Force, which was controversial due to its perceived politicization by Fianna Fáil. While the 1920s saw the establishment of the earlier Volunteer Reserve, Comyn’s comments and the Volunteer Force issue are more firmly rooted in the 1930s. For precise details, accessing primary sources like Seanad records or contemporary newspapers would be necessary. If you have additional details (e.g., the exact date of the debate or the source of the quote), I can refine the response further. Would you like me to search for more specific information or clarify any aspect of this?

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