Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1956 > Committee on Procedure and Privileges > Report - Newspaper Article in Sporting Press

ORDERS OF REFERENCE.

16th June, 1954:—Ordered: That a Committee on Procedure and Privileges consisting of the Ceann Comhairle who shall be Chairman, and seventeen other Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection, be appointed; that the Committee be empowered to consider matters of procedure generally and to recommend any additions to or amendments of the existing Standing Orders that may be deemed necessary, and to consider also and report as and when requested to do so as to the privileges attaching to Members.

That the quorum of the Committee be eight (Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach).

24th June, 1954:—Members appointed to serve on the Committee:—Deputies Blaney, Boland, S. Collins, Doyle, Dunne, Hilliard, Kelly, Kennedy, Kyne, J. Lynch, Morrissey, McMenamin, O Briain, O’Hara, O’Malley, O’Sullivan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach) and Palmer.

8th March, 1956:—Deputy Briscoe drew attention to the leading article in a newspaper—the Sporting Press dated 23rd February, 1956—which, under the heading “Parliamentary Conduct?”, contained certain comments reflecting on the proceedings of Dáil Éireann, and submitted that a breach of privilege had occurred.

The Leas-Cheann Comhairle ruled that the article constituted a prima facie breach of privilege.

Ordered: That the article entitled “Parliamentary Conduct?”, published in the Sporting Press dated 23rd February, 1956, be referred to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges [Deputy Briscoe].