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

IMEACHTAÍ AN CHOISTE

PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE

Dé Céadaoin, 4 Lúnasa, 1971.

Wednesday, 4 August, 1971.

1. The Committee met at 3.30 p.m.

2. Members Present.

The following members were present:— Deputy Patrick Hogan (in the Chair), Deputies Barrett, R. Burke, E. Collins, Dowling, FitzGerald, H. Gibbons, MacSharry, Nolan, Treacy and Tunney.

3. The Committee noted a letter* of 30 July, 1971, from the Minister for Finance in relation to engagement of counsel.

4. The Committee considered letters of 30 July, 1971, from the Minister for Finance* and the Minister for Justice† relating to Garda Reports. It took into consideration a report from the Secretary that Mr. H had informed him that he would by Tuesday, 3 August, communicate his decision relating to making evidence given by him in private available to a witness but that no communication had yet been received from Mr. H.

Ordered: to defer the matter until later today.

5. The Committee considered a letter* of 4 August, 1971, from the Minister for Justice in relation to documents sought by Deputy Ó Móráin.

Ordered: to defer consideration until later today.

6. The Committee noted a letter† dated 31 July, 1971, from the Deputy Commissioner, Garda Síochána, in relation to its summons to Chief Superintendent Fleming.

7. The Committee considered a letter‡ of 3 August from the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries in relation to his summons to attend.

Motion made (Deputy FitzGerald):

“That an Interim Report be prepared notifying the Dáil of the Minister’s refusal to attend before the Committee.”

Question put.

The Committee divided: For, 5; Against, 5.

In accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 72, there being an equality of votes, the Question was decided in the negative.

8. The Committee went into public session.

9. Captain James J. Kelly, Mr. P. Sutherland B.L. and Mrs. Moynihan, Solicitor, were in attendance.

10. Mr. Sutherland addressed the Committee on behalf of Captain Kelly.

11. The Committee granted Mr. Sutherland’s request to address the Committee further tomorrow.

12. Captain Kelly, Mr. Sutherland and Mrs. Moynihan withdrew.

13. The Committee went into private session.

14. Ordered: that the presence of counsel for the Committee be not required for tomorrow’s public sitting.

15. Ordered: that the pairing arrangement should continue until the Summer Recess.

16. The Committee again considered the matters referred to in paragraph 4 above.

Ordered: to consider the matters further tomorrow.

17. The Committee considered a letter* of 28 July, 1971, from the solicitors for Mr. Páraic Haughey.

Ordered: to consider the matter further tomorrow.

18. The Committee again considered a letter† of 4 August from the Minister for Justice in relation to documents sought by Deputy Ó Móráin.

Resolved: to approve from of reply.†

19. The Committee considered a letter†† of 1 August, 1971, from Mr. Séamus Brady relating to a further submission.

Ordered: to summon Mr. Brady to attend tomorrow.

20. Adjournment.

The Committee adjourned at 5.35 p.m. until 3.30 p.m. tomorrow.

*Appendix 4 (8) (b).

†Appendix 4 (14).

* Appendix 4 (14).

† Appendix 4 (9).

‡ Appendix 4 (10).

*Appendix 4 (12).

†Appendix 4 (14).

††Appendix 4 (5).