asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether representations were made to him on behalf of Cavan Urban District Council to have the legal expenses incurred in connection with the Cavan Convent Fire Inquiry defrayed out of the Exchequer; if he has refused this request; and whether, having regard to the fact that the inquiry tribunal was set up by a resolution of the Houses of the Oireachtas, and one of its objects was the guarding against the occurrence of such a calamity in Government controlled institutions of the kind in the future, he will reconsider his decision and thus relieve the ratepayers of Cavan Urban District of the heavy burden of 2/3 in the £ incurred in assisting the tribunal in the investigation of the cause of the fire.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cavan Convent Fire Inquiry.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The request for payment of legal expenses was not acceded to because I had no power to defray expenses of the Cavan Urban Council or other witnesses at the inquiry. The urban district council appeared before the inquiry on their own initiative as was only to be expected they would since they are the responsible fire fighting authority in the urban district, and the expenses involved in doing so fall to be met by the council as any other legal expenses incurred by them in the discharge of their duties.
As regards the latter part of the question, the Deputy is apparently unaware that on the 9th December last the urban council unanimously passed a resolution requesting sanction to temporary borrowing for the purpose of meeting the legal expenses incurred by them in being represented at the inquiry. In the circumstances of the case borrowing was sanctioned on the 12th January last, the loan to be repayable over a period of three years. The annual charge on the rates for that period would be about 7d. in the £.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, did the Minister, before making his decision, advert to the fact that when introducing the resolution in the Dáil on 3rd March he stated that the object was not to find a scapegoat or to attach blame to any particular party? How can he reconcile the imposition of a rate of 2/3 in the £ with that statement?
I have no difficulty whatsoever. The purpose of the inquiry was to ascertain the causes of the lamentable tragedy and to see what steps could be taken to prevent a recurrence of such happenings in the future. The fact that the Cavan Urban District Council felt called upon to be represented at the inquiry is a different matter. So far as the imposition of a rate of 2/3 in the £ is concerned, I am not imposing the rate. The urban district council must meet its liabilities. They incurred the liabilities and in those circumstances they must meet them.
I wish, with your permission, to raise that question again on the adjournment.
I will consider the matter.