Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1970 > Committee on Procedure and Privileges > Report - Magazine Item containing Criticism of the Ceann Comhairle

ORDERS OF REFERENCE.

16th July, 1969:—Ordered: That in pursuance of Standing Order No. 74 of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business the Committee on Procedure and Privileges be appointed [Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach].

17th July, 1969:—Members appointed to serve on Committee:—Deputies P. J. Burke, R. Burke, Bruton, Carter, Cluskey, Crowley, Dowling, Enright, Esmonde, Foley, Gallagher, L’Estrange, Murphy, J. O’Leary, O’Malley (Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach), Ryan and Wyse.

9th December, 1969:—The Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach drew attention to an item in a magazine— This Week in Ireland for the week ending 12th December, 1969—which under the heading “The Ceann Comhairle is Biased” purported to report an interview with Deputy Cruise O’Brien and submitted that a breach of privilege had occurred.

The Ceann Comhairle ruled that the item constituted a prima facie breach of privilege.

Ordered: That the item entitled “The Ceann Comhairle is Biased” which was published in This Week in Ireland for the week ending 12th December, 1969, and which purported to report an interview with Deputy Cruise O’Brien be referred to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges [Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach].