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 Máirt, 13 Iúil, 1971.

Tuesday, 13 July, 1971.

1. The Committee met at 4 p.m.

2. Members Present.

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

3. Mr. E. F. Suttle (Comptroller and Auditor General) was in attendance in an advisory capacity.

4. Resolved: to accede to request by RTE to film the Committee on condition that there be no sound recording and that the Committee be not in session.

5. Ordered: that no member other than the Chairman should make statements on behalf of the Committee.

6. Sitting Suspended.

The sitting was suspended at 4.30 p.m. until 5 p.m. today.

7. The Committee met again at 5 p.m.

8. The Committee consulted with Mr. C. H. Murray, Secretary, Department of Finance (accompanied by Mr. A. J. Fagan).

9. Mr. Murray withdrew.

10. The Chairman reported that RTE had requested a statement for the “Seven Days” programme relating to Deputy Keating’s resignation from the Committee and the Supreme Court’s judgement in the appeal of Mr. Páraic Haughey. Ordered: to consider the matter this evening.

11. Sitting Suspended

The sitting was suspended at 6.15 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. today.

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

13. Ordered: that the Chairman prepare a statement for consideration in relation to the RTE request.

14. It was agreed that members would make no comment in relation to the Committee on television or radio or to the press until after the Committee had reported to the Dáil, this agreement to apply even where a member resigned before the Report was made.

15. Letters of 5, 7 and 13 July* from the solicitors for Mr. John Kelly, letter of 6 July from the solicitors for Mr. Paraic Haughey†, letters † of 8 July to each from the Committee and legal opinion on the matters arising, was considered.

16. Ordered: that the Ministers for Finance§ and Justice** be written to in connection with the requests of Mr. Paraic Haughey and Mr. John Kelly relating to Garda reports.

17. Resolved: that no action was necessary on Deputy Ó Móráin’s letter†† of 8 July, 1971.

18. Letter of 9 July, 1971 from Captain James J. Kelly considered and form of reply approved.‡‡

19. Letter of 7 July from Mr. Séamus Brady considered and form of reply approved.§§

20. The Committee noted a letter (not printed) of 8 July from Deputy Keating resigning from the Committee.

21. Motion made (Chairman):

“That the following statement be issued by the Committee: ‘The Committee regrets that Members who have resigned have issued statements in respect of the Committee’s activities pending production of its report. The Committee accepts the principle of joint responsibility in its deliberations and in the production of its report, and will in that spirit continue to carry out the obligations placed on it by Dáil Éireann.”’

Question put.

The Committee divided:

For, 7; Against 3.

For:—
Deputy	S. Barrett
„	J. Dowling
„	G. FitzGerald
„	P. Hogan (Chairman)
„	R. MacSharry
„	T. Nolan
„	J. Tunney

Against:—
Deputy	R. Burke
„	E. Collins
„	S. Treacy

The Question was declared carried accordingly.

22. Motion made (Deputy E. Collins):

“That the division on the previous motion be now published.”

Question put.

The Committee divided:

For, 3; Against, 6.

The Question was declared negatived accordingly.

23. Adjournment.

The Committee adjourned at 11 p.m. until 10.45 a.m. on Thursday next.

* Appendix 4 (16).

† Appendix 4 (12).

§ Appendix 4 (8) (b).

** Appendix 4 (14).

†† Appendix 4 (21).

‡‡ Appendix 4 (15).

§§ Appendix 3 (3), page 204.