Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1975 > Committee on Procedure and Privileges > Report - Allegations made by two Members against the Minister for Local Government in the Dáil

IMEACHTAÍ AN CHOISTE

PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE

Dé Céadaoin, 2 Iúil, 1975.

Wednesday, 2nd July, 1975.

1. The Thirteenth meeting of the Committee took place at 8 p.m. in Room 91.

2. The following Members were present:—

The Ceann Comhairle (Chairman), Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach, Deputies Andrews, Carter, Barry Desmond, Esmonde, Gene Fitzgerald, Harte, Lalor, L’Estrange, Fergus O’Brien, John O’Leary, John J. Ryan, Timmins and Wyse.

Privilege (Allegations made by two Members against the Minister for Local Government).

3. The Ceann Comhairle stated that allegations had been made in the Dáil on 25th June, 1975 by Deputy Molloy against the Minister for Local Government, Deputy James Tully. The Minister had formally denied the allegations in a personal explanation in the House on 2nd July but Deputy Molloy had not seen fit to withdraw them and, in the circumstances, the Chair was obliged on precedent to refer the matter to the Committee for investigation. In this connection the Ceann Comhairle referred to a parallel case in 1948 involving statements made by the then Minister for Agriculture reflecting on Deputy Corry. Notwithstanding a personal explanation by Deputy Corry the Minister did not withdraw the statements and the then Ceann Comhairle had referred the matter to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. Following deliberation, the Committee had recommended to the House that the matter referred to it should be investigated by a Judicial Tribunal.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach stated that the allegations made by Deputy Molloy had been supported in the House by Deputy Crinion and that any investigation by the Committee should take into account the statements made by Deputy Crinion.

Motion made (Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach):

“That the Committee should itself investigate the allegations made by Deputies Crinion and Molloy against the Minister for Local Government to determine, as a result of this investigation, whether there has been a breach of privilege on the part of Deputies Crinion and Molloy or either of them”.

Amendment proposed (Deputy Lalor):

“To delete all words after ‘Committee’ and substitute:

‘recommend to the House that a police investigation be instituted to substantiate or otherwise the allegations made by Deputy Molloy’.”

Question:—“That the words proposed to be deleted stand part of the main Question”—put: the Committee divided: For 7; Against 6.

For:—Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach, Deputies Barry Desmond, Esmonde, L’Estrange, Fergus O’Brien, John J. Ryan and Timmins.

Against:—Deputies Andrews, Carter, Gene Fitzgerald, Lalor, John O’Leary and Wyse.

The Question was declared carried accordingly.

Main Question put: the Committee divided: For 7; Against 6.

For:—Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach, Deputies Barry Desmond, Esmonde, L’Estrange, Fergus O’Brien, John J. Ryan and Timmins.

Against:—Deputies Andrews, Carter, Gene Fitzgerald, Lalor, John O’Leary and Wyse.

The Question was declared carried accordingly.

Ordered: That Deputies Crinion and Molloy and the Minister for Local Government be invited to appear before the Committee at 11.30 a.m. to-morrow to discuss the allegations.

4. The Committee adjourned at 11.10 p.m. until 11.30 a.m. to-morrow.