Committee Reports::Final Report - Northern Ireland Relief Expenditure::06 July, 1971::Proceedings of the Joint Committee


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IMEACHTAÍ AN CHOISTE

PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE

Dé Máirt, 6 Iúil, 1971.

Tuesday, 6 July, 1971.

1. The Committee met at 3.45 p.m.

2. Members Present.

The following members were present:—

Deputy Patrick Hogan (in the Chair), Deputies Barrett, 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.

4. Consideration was given to letters of 5 and 6 July from solicitors for Mr. John Kelly* and Mr. Páraic Haughey† respectively, and to letter of 5 July from Chief Superintendent John P. Fleming.‡

5. The Committee was notified that Mr. John Kelly, who had been summoned to attend at 4 p.m. today, had left Leinster House at 4.40 p.m.

6. Ordered: that a letter** be sent to Mr. John Kelly explaining that consideration of his letter of 5 July had occupied the Committee until 4.40 p.m. when they were informed that he had left Leinster House, and requesting him to attend on Tuesday next 13th instant at 4 p.m.

7. Ordered: that the Chairman make a statement to the Press along the lines of the letter to be sent to Mr. John Kelly.

8. Ordered: that legal advice be taken regarding the letters of 5 and 6 July from the solicitors for Mr. John Kelly and Mr. Páraic Haughey respectively, and that the Chairman be empowered to seek verbal sanction from the Minister for Finance for the necessary expenditure.

9. The Committee noted a letter†† of 30 June from Deputy Briscoe resigning from the Committee.

10. Sitting Suspended.

The sitting was suspended at 5.30 p.m. until 8 p.m. today

11. The Committee met again at 8 p.m.

12. The Chairman reported to the Committee that the Minister for Finance had informed him that the position regarding the engagement of counsel was stated in his Department’s letter§ of 5 July, but that he would consider the matter of sanction for the necessary expenditure in relation to the letters from the solicitors for Mr. John Kelly and Mr. Paraic Haughey and inform the Commttee of his decision later.*

13. Deputy Nolan moved:

“That the Committee proceed on the following basis: that the letters of 5 and 6 July received from the solicitors for Mr. John Kelly and Mr. Páraic Haughey, respectively, be replied to following consideration of legal advice, that Deputy Ó Móráin be recalled to give evidence, that Mr. C. H. Murray be recalled to give evidence, that on completion of these steps the Committee proceed to the preparation of a report, provided that if in the course of such preparation it appears to the Committee that clarification of the evidence given by a witness is required, such clarification be sought; and that the following public announcement be made today:—

‘With a view to enabling the Committee to complete its examination as soon as possible, it invites any other person who believes that he can help the Committee in its inquiries with relevant new evidence, to notify the Secretary to the Committee within the next two weeks.’”

Question put and agreed to, subject to the following reservation, to be noted in the Proceedings of the Committee, by Deputy FitzGerald: That he reserves his position at this stage in the matter of calling new witnesses, specifically three members of the IRA.

14. Ordered: that the Chairman be empowered to reply to letters of 5 and 6 July from solicitors for Mr. John Kelly and Mr. Paraic Haughey following consideration of legal advice received (if expenditure thereon is sanctioned) and without further reference to the Committee.

15. Ordered: that the Chairman be empowered to rearrange the date fixed for the attendance of Mr. John Kelly and to fix the date for the attendance of Mr. Páraic Haughey.

16. Ordered: that the letter of 5 July† received from the Minister for Justice relating to documents sought by Deputy Ó Mórain and the Committee’s letter of 17 June† be sent to Deputy Ó Móráin,‡ that he be informed that the Commttee would accord him the facilities agreed to by the Minister and that he be requested to attend on 13 July for that purpose.

17. Adjournment.

The Committee adjourned at 10.15 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Tuesday next

* Verbal sanction for the specific purpose received 7 July 1971.

†Appendix 4 (14).

‡Appendix 4 (21).