asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he will make available to the Monaghan County Council the terms of his inspector's report on the administration of the Monaghan Board of Health and Public Assistance, and if he will state on what grounds he justifies the abolition of that body and the handing over of its functions to a commissioner.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Monaghan Board of Health.
I do not propose to make the inspector's report available to the Monaghan County Council. As regards the latter part of the question, I was satisfied that the duties of the board of health and public assistance were not being duly and effectively discharged by them.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, Sir, is it not reasonable, in view of the evidence published in the papers, which disclosed no cause whatever for the dissolution of this body, that if the Minister has any confidential information which the public were not given with regard to this matter, some steps should be taken to communicate that information to the members of the county council?
I do not accept the Deputy's interpretation, or rather his reading, of the evidence that was produced. I think that sufficient evidence was produced there to disclose a condition of affairs that made it quite clear to anybody that the duties of the Monaghan Board of Health and Public Assistance were not being effectively discharged. As regards inspectors' reports of these inquiries, these are privileged documents and the practice is that they are not disclosed, and have not been disclosed at any time, except to the Minister for his information so as to enable him to take any action that may be considered necessary.
Would the Minister point out any single portion or item of the evidence wherein he could justify the wiping out of an elected body which, in the normal course of events, would have ceased to function when the elections take place? What has the Minister to say to justify that action, and can he point to any single item of evidence that would justify it?
I do not want to specify any particular piece of evidence, but if the Deputy saw the auditor's report and the report of the county medical officer or health, and if he had been reading—as I say, I do not want to specify any particular item now—of the conduct of business by the board of health over a long period, I think he would find sufficient evidence to justify the action that has been taken. I would remind the Deputy also that a member of his own Party and a member of the Seanad, on the 1st of May last, referred to it as being an outstanding example of maladministration in public affairs. I do not know whether the Deputy disputes that.
Most emphatically. Does the Minister know that in the County Monaghan and surrounding districts the popular belief held by the vast majority of the people supporting both his own Party and ours is that the Monaghan Board of Health and Public assistance was wiped out because it would not fall in with the improper requirements of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister, and that the Parliamentary Secretary sought to use that body as a political instrument in the county and, when the members would not bow to his will, it was wiped out?
There is no foundation whatever for that, none whatever. I have not discussed these matters with the Parliamentary Secretary, nor have I even discussed this case with him. The mutters have come to me directly with regard to the board—that they repeatedly refused to carry out the lawful orders of the Department. I do not want to specify particular items, but the Deputy must be aware that very serious matters have arisen there from time to time.
I deny it absolutely. I have asked the Minister to point out any single item of evidence on which he could justly found a reason for the abolition of that body, and the Minister has failed to do so. I ask leave, Sir, to raise this matter on the adjournment so that the evidence in this case can be examined by the House with a view to finding out whether this action was taken for a proper motive or for an improper motive because of a single individual who sought to use that body for his own political ends.
There is no foundation whatever for that statement.
I shall consider the question of allowing that matter to be raised on the motion for the adjournment.