There was a matter here yesterday to which I had to draw attention. It was with regard to some inaccuracies that appeared in the Press reports. I find to-day that these inaccuracies are not corrected. I do not know if it is quite fair to expect or can we reasonably expect, as public representatives, that when inaccuracies like these are pointed out that they should be corrected. To-day I see that where the discussion over arrears of rent is reported in the Irish Times it is absolutely inaccurate. Not only is it inaccurate, but it is misleading. I do not say it was done maliciously, but the effect is malicious Mr. Sears is reported to have said “that the Minister would take off a half-year's purchase money, and that would meet the case to some extent. Mr. Hughes said that suggestion was an admirable one. Mr. Gorey was not pleased to accept the suggestion.” Now, what Mr. Sears suggested was that a half-year's rent be taken off the man who owed three years' rent. There was no consideration at all for the men who owed less. Under these conditions I refused to accept it. That is a different thing altogether from what appeared in the report. I do not think we are expecting too much, when inaccuracies are pointed out, that the inaccuracies should be corrected. Some attempt at accuracy, at all events, ought to be made in the reporting.
PRESS REPORTS.
I gave the Minister for Local Government a private notice of a question.
I did not get that question.
I am not in a position to answer that question. The Inspector is on the spot.
The Minister cannot answer now. When a question is given on private notice a copy of it ought be given to me.
I rose for your instructions in this matter.
There may be difficulty in actually reporting a debate very accurately. There are difficulties in following the Committee Stage of a Bill like the Land Bill, which is very technical, and there are difficulties in exactly appreciating what a particular suggestion, when not put in writing, means. I will see if we can get the matter rectified now. Of course, it is in the Press report, not in our Official Report that the inaccuracy complained of occurred?
Yes, it is the Press report I am referring to.