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, 17 Feabhra, 1971.

Wednesday, 17 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.

4. Ordered: that the reports referred to by Chief Superintendent John P. Fleming in his evidence be requisitioned.*

5. The Committee consulted with Mr. C. H. Murray, Secretary, Department of Finance.

6. The Committee went into public session.

7. Witnesses Examined.

Mr. Páraic Haughey was sworn and examined.

8. Mr. Páraic Haughey withdrew.

9. The Committee went into private session.

10. The Committee deliberated.

11. The Committee went into public session.

12. Witnesses Examined.

Examination of Mr. Páraic Haughey was resumed.

13. Mr. Páraic Haughey withdrew.

14. The Committee went into private session.

15. Motion proposed (Chairman):

“That, arising from the refusal of Mr. Páraic Haughey to answer questions to which the Committee legally required answers, the Committee certify the offence to the High Court.”

Question put.

The Committee divided:

For, 11; Against, 1.

For:—

Deputy P. Hogan (Chairman), Deputies S. Barrett, B. Briscoe, R. Burke, E. Collins, G. FitzGerald, H. Gibbons, J. Keating, T. Nolan, S. Treacy and J. Tunney.

Against:—

Deputy MacSharry.

The Question was declared carried accordingly.

16. Ordered: that Deputy MacSharry be recorded in the proceedings as stating that he had voted against the motion on the ground that he refused to agree to any citation until such time as it seemed to him that the Committee could not continue in its investigation.

17. Sitting Suspended.

The sitting was suspended at 1.20 p.m. until 4 p.m. today.

18. The Committee met again at 4 p.m.

19. The Committee consulted with Mr. C. H. Murray, Secretary, Department of Finance.

20. The Committee deliberated.

21. The Committee went into public session.

22. Witnesses Examined.

Examination of Colonel Hefferon was resumed.

23. Sitting Suspended.

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

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

25. The Committee went into public session.

26. Witnesses Examined.

Examination of Colonel Hefferon was resumed.

27. Sitting Suspended.

The sitting was suspended at 9.35 p.m. until 9.50 p.m. today.

28. The Committee met again at 9.50 p.m.

29. The Committee went into public session.

30. Witnesses Examined.

Examination of Colonel Hefferon was resumed.

31. Colonel Hefferon withdrew.

32. Ordered: that the Chairman and the Secretary of the Irish Red Cross Society be required to attend.

33. Adjournment.

The Committee adjourned at 10.25 p.m. until 10 a.m. tomorrow.

* Appendix 4 (26).