Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1972 > Committee of Public Accounts > Final Report - Northern Ireland Relief Expenditure

IMEACHTAÍ AN CHOISTE

PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE

Déardaoin, 22 Meitheamh, 1972

Thursday, 22 June, 1972

1. The Committee met at 11.30 a.m.

2. Members Present.

The following members were present:—

Deputies Barrett, E. Collins, Dowling, FitzGerald, 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 in the unavoidable absence of the Chairman, Deputy Collins do take the Chair for this meeting.”

Question put, and agreed to,

Deputy Collins took the Chair accordingly.

5. The Committee took into consideration communications (not printed) received from witnesses who gave evidence in private on the question of publication of their evidence.

(i) Motion made (Deputy Dowling):

“That a separate decision be taken on the publication of the evidence of each person, respectively, who gave evidence in private before the Committee.”

Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

(ii) Motion made (Deputy Tunney):

“That, having regard to the promises given to or understandings with witnesses who gave evidence in private, the Minutes of such evidence be not published except where such a witness requests otherwise.”

Amendment proposed (Deputy FitzGerald):

“To delete all words after ‘regard to’ and substitute ‘the Committee’s obligations to the Dáil, a separate decision be taken on the question of publication of the Minutes of Evidence given in private by each witness’.”

Question:—“That the amendment be made”—put.

The Committee divided.

For, 2; Against, 5.

The Question was declared negatived accordingly.

Amendment proposed (Deputy FitzGerald):

“To delete all words after ‘published’ and substitute ‘save where the witness concerned has accepted that the evidence be published’.”

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendment proposed (Deputy Nolan):

“To delete all words after ‘published’ and substitute ‘without the consent of the persons who gave such evidence’.”

Question:— “That the amendment be made”—put.

The Committee divided.

For, 5; Against, 2.

The Question was declared carried accordingly.

Main Question, as amended, put.

The Committee divided.

For, 3; Against, 4.

The Main Question, as amended, was declared negatived accordingly.

6. Adjournment.

The Committee adjourned at 1.15 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday next.