Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1971 > Committee of Public Accounts > Final Report - Northern Ireland Relief Expenditure

IMEACHTAI AN CHOISTE

Proceedings of the Committee

Dé Máirt, 2 Feabhra, 1971.

Tuesday, 2 February, 1971.

1. The Committee met at 11 a.m.

2. Members Present.

The following members were present:—

Deputy Patrick Hogan (in the Chair), Deputies Barrett, Briscoe, R. Burke, E. Collins, FitzGerald, H. Gibbons, Keating, MacSharry, Nolan, Treacy and Tunney.

3. Mr. E. F. Suttle (Comptroller and Auditor General) was in attendance in an advisory capacity, accompanied by Mr. S. Mac Gearailt.

4. The Committee deliberated.

5. The Committee noted the receipt from the Munster and Leinster Bank, Lr. Baggot St. of copies* of letters dated 17, 21 and 27 November 1969 addressed by the Manager of the Bank to the National Provincial Bank, Piccadilly, London.

6. The Committee went into public session.

7. Witnesses Examined.

Examination of Colonel Hefferon was resumed.

8. Sitting Suspended.

The sitting was suspended at 12.30 p.m. until 4 p.m. today

9. The Committee met again at 4 p.m. in private session.

10. Ordered: the Whips having concurred, that members of the Committee should pair on any day on which the Committee sat.

11. The Committee considered a letter† of 2 February 1971 received from Lt. General Seán Mac Eoin, Chief of Staff relating inter alia to the directive of 6 February 1970.

Ordered: that the Committee seek sight of the directive.

12. Witnesses Examined.

Lt. General Seán Mac Eoin, Chief of Staff, was sworn and examined in private session.

13. Ordered: that the witness be given the opportunity of consulting the Minister for Defence to ascertain if he would be willing to give the Committee sight of the directive of 6 February 1970.

14. General Mac Eoin withdrew.

15. The Committee consulted with Chief Superintendent John P. Fleming, Garda Síochána.

16. Chief Superintendent Fleming with drew.

17. The Chairman informed the Committee that General Mac Eoin had informed him that the Minister for Defence had not withdrawn privilege in relation to the directive of 6 February 1970.

18. Ordered: that the Chairman seek an interview with the Taoiseach in regard to the directive of 6 February 1970 stressing to him that it would suffice if the Committee was in a position to say (a) that it had seen the directive and (b) that it was satisfied that it gave no authority for the purchase, procurement or acquisition of arms, and that the Committee would not refer to any other matter that might be contained in the directive.

19. Ordered: that the mandate* for the account in the Munster and Leinster Bank 2 Lr. Baggot St. Dublin for the Relief Committee of Belfast Fund for the Relief of Distress be sent for examination† by a handwriting expert.

20. Sitting Suspended.

The sitting was suspended at 6 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. today

21. The Committee met again at 7.30 p.m.

22. The Committee went into public session.

23. Witnesses Examined.

Examination of Captain Kelly was resumed.

24. Captain Kelly withdrew.

25. The Committee went into private session.

26. The Committee deliberated.

27. Adjournment.

The Committee adjourned at 10.20 p.m. until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

* Appendix 4 (2).

† Appendix 4 (18)

* Appendix 5 (17).

† Report not published.