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, 23 Márta, 1971.

Tuesday, 23 March, 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, R. Burke, E. Collins, FitzGerald, H. Gibbons, Keating, MacSharry, Nolan and Tunney.

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

4. Election of Temporary Chairman.

Motion made (Deputy Nolan):

“That Deputy R. Burke be the Chairman until the return of the Chairman.”

Question put, and agreed to.

Deputy Burke took the Chair accordingly.

5. The Committee deliberated.

Deputy Hogan resumed the Chair.

6. The Committee considered a letter* of 18 March, 1971 from Mr. Harry Blaney and a letter† of 22 March, 1971 from M. B. Ó Cléirigh and Co. Solicitors, acting for Mr. H. Blaney in connection with the summons to Mr. Blaney to attend today before the Committee.

Ordered: that Mr. Blaney be informed that he would not be called this week.

7. The Committee considered a Department of Finance minute‡ of 11 March relating to the employment of reporters.

Ordered: that at this stage the Committee sit on Tuesdays and on Wednesday mornings.

8. Sitting Suspended.

The sitting was suspended at 1.15 p.m. until 4.30 p.m. today.

9. The Committee met again at 4.30 p.m.

10. Witnesses Examined.

Mr. M. J. Wymes, Commissioner of the Garda Síochána, was sworn and examined in private session.

11. Mr. Wymes withdrew.

12. Ordered: that Assistant Garda Commissioner Malone and Mr. Eoin Neeson be required to attend.

13. Ordered: that Books of Evidence of first and second arms trials be obtained.

14. Sitting Suspended.

The sitting was suspended at 6.10 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. today.

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

16. Witnesses Examined.

Mr. C. was sworn and examined in private session.

17. Mr. C. withdrew.

18. Witnesses Examined.

Examination was resumed in private session of Mr. H. T. Deacon.

19. Mr. Deacon withdrew.

20. Ordered: that Messrs. W. Thornhill, T. O’Maloney, M. V. Coyne, R. Heywood-Jones, D. N. Ryan, T. D. Crotty, J. N. Nolan and V. Reynolds be required to attend.

21. The Committee went into public session.

22. Witnesses Examined.

Messrs. W. Thornhill, T. O’Maloney, M. V. Coyne, R. Heywood-Jones, D. N. Ryan, T. D. Crotty, J. N. Nolan and V. Reynolds were sworn and examined.

23. The witnesses withdrew.

24. Adjournment.

The Committee adjourned at 11.5 p.m. until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

* Appendix 4 (3).

† Appendix 4 (3).

‡ Appendix 4 (6).