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

Thought for 2m 53s

This passage is an excerpt from Mark Phelan’s 2012 PhD thesis titled Irish Responses to Fascist Italy, 1919–1932, published by the National University of Ireland, Galway.researchrepository.universityofgalway.ie

It describes a scene from a 1931 Seanad Éireann debate on postponing local elections (the Local Elections and Meetings (Postponement) Bill, 1931), where opposition members walked out or failed to engage fully, leaving few senators to hear Fianna Fáil Senator Michael Comyn’s speech.

oireachtas.ie Comyn (1871–1952), a barrister, republican activist, and Fianna Fáil politician who served in the Seanad from 1928 to 1936, drew on historical examples from Britain and Europe (such as parliamentary cessions of power leading to autocracy) to criticize the bill as a precedent for undermining democratic institutions. He argued that extending the terms of local bodies could extend to parliament itself, eroding oversight and opening the door to autocratic rule.The “question” in the quote refers to the bill’s proposal to delay elections for three years, ostensibly for reorganization and cost savings but viewed by critics as a power grab by the Cumann na nGaedheal government. Comyn’s warning reflects broader post-Civil War tensions in Ireland, where fears of authoritarianism were heightened by economic instability, political polarization, and the rise of fascist movements in Europe (e.g., Mussolini’s Italy, which the thesis explores in relation to Irish politics). The bill passed despite opposition, but Fianna Fáil’s 1932 election victory shifted the dynamic, leading to further reforms including the eventual abolition of the Seanad in 1936 under de Valera.The passage also ties into debates around the Volunteer Force (established in 1934 under Fianna Fáil’s Minister for Defence Frank Aiken), a reserve army unit accused by opponents of being a partisan “political army” to counter groups like the Blueshirts.

canisgallicus.com Comyn’s remarks highlight ironic parallels to European fascism, as Ireland grappled with its own democratic fragility in the interwar period. Footnote 82 likely references a contemporary newspaper report (e.g., from the Irish Independent) or the official Seanad debate record from 3 June 1931, though exact verbatim matches to the quote may stem from journalistic summaries rather than the official transcript.