asked the President if he will state when the report of the Commissioner of the Gárda Síochána on Communism in Ireland, that he promised on March 1st to lay on the Table of the Dáil, will be made available for or circulated to members of the Dáil.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Report on Communism.
In course of debate on 1st March when reading a brief summary of the report referred to, I stated, in reply to an interruption by the Deputy, that the report, if necessary, could be placed on the Table of the House.
I have since given this matter the most careful consideration, and I think and am advised that it is not in the public interest that a confidential police document of this nature should be published.
I hope that it will be sufficient to make the full report available in confidence to Leaders of the Parties in the House.
If, despite the consideration of public interest, however, Deputies press for it, I shall fulfil the promise I gave.
I should like to ask the President is he not aware that, although he answered me that he would if necessary make the report available, he gave a specific and formal undertaking to Deputy Dillon that that report would be made available. He said now in the last part of his reply that if insisted upon he would make the report available, while it was on the specific promise that he made that he was permitted to read out what purported to be a general indication of the contents of the report. If he does say that if insisted upon he will make it available, then I propose to insist upon it.
My reply to Deputy Fitzgerald on that occasion was as follows:
"I am going to give a summary— a statement with regard to counties —and the report, if necessary, can be put on the Table of the House."
That was in answer to Deputy Fitzgerald's question. Later on Deputy Dillon interjected:
"The President will publish the full report?"
and to that I answered:
"The full report will be laid on the Table of the House for Deputies to read."
That is exactly what I said. I shall repeat the last portion of my reply to-day: "If, despite the consideration of public interest, however, Deputies press for it, I shall fulfil the promise I gave." I take it from Deputy Fitzgerald, as representing the Opposition, that they are pressing for it, in which case I shall fulfil my promise.
I do not know whether it is in order to answer——
The Deputy may ask a supplementary question.
The President rather asked us a question, and I do not know whether it would be in order to answer it.
I shall hear the Deputy.
I wish to make it plain that the Opposition are not prepared to take any responsibility for deciding whether the particular report ought or ought not, in the public interest, to be published. The President was of opinion, apparently, a couple of weeks ago, that it could be placed on the Table of the House without damage to the public interest, and it is the responsibility of the Government to come to a decision on that point.
As the Deputy Leader of the Opposition was not in the House when I read the reply I should like to read it again. (Reply read again). After I read this reply, I understood from Deputy Fitzgerald that he is pressing for it.
There are various aspects of public interest. I should like to ask the President does he think that it is in the public interest for members of the Government to come into this House, and—by giving promises which, apparently, it is not intended to fulfil—to put themselves in a position to be able to give what purports to be the contents of confidential documents and then, in the words of the President, "since that"—which means thereafter—to give the matter consideration and to decide that it is not in the public interest. I propose, Sir, raising this matter on the adjournment.
In reply, I want to say in the nature of things it is almost certain to be necessary—for the Government, no matter what Government is in office, to assure Deputies of the House, when questions of public importance are raised, by giving them summaries of the information which the Government receive through the police authorities. I think that is almost certain. Now the question is whether, in accordance with the rules of the House, the Government or the Executive are to be prevented from doing that unless they give the whole of the confidential report. I was giving a summary, and I made it clear by the two statements that if necessary —hoping that the Deputies who had experience of public affairs would not demand it and make it necessary—the full report would be laid on the Table of the House. In the second place, I qualified my statement again by saying "for Deputies to read."
Now I understand that putting it on the Table of the House means that it is available for publication. That is one of the considerations which make me suggest to the Opposition Parties that they should be content with having a full copy of the report made available for the leaders. If, however, that offer is not accepted and I am pressed, as apparently, I am, for publication, and to keep definitely to the letter of my promise I am prepared to do it, still holding as before that in my opinion it is not in the public interest that it should be done, and that it would be better left undone. Still there are other aspects of public interest, too, and if I am pressed I would regard that as being an overriding factor.
I am of opinion, Sir, from what I can gather with regard to the character of this document and the allusions made in it to individual persons in various parts of the country that it would be against public interest, and would hamper the work of the Civic Guards, if it were published. Therefore, I am not prepared to press the President to publish it in accordance with his promise. I agree with Deputy Fitzgerald that the question of the use of such documents in this House is one which demands ventilation, and I welcome the fact that he proposes to raise the matter on the adjournment.