asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether the Government requested payment from Parliamentary Secretaries of the previous Government in respect of use of State cars during the general election campaign last January and February; and, if so, whether he will state (a) the amounts requested; (b) the name of each Deputy concerned; (c) whether the amounts have been paid; and, if so, (d) the dates of such payments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Use of State Cars.
I wrote to Deputies Childers, Kissane and O'Grady on the 10th March last asking them to pay, at the rate of 6d. per mile, in respect of the use by them of official cars during the period from the date of the dissolution of the Dáil until their reappointment as Parliamentary Secretaries on the 6th February. No payments have yet been made by the three Deputies. The amounts involved are:— Deputy Childers, £91 5s. 0d.; Deputy Kissane, £72 15s. 0d.; Deputy O'Grady, £82 2s. 0d.
Can the Minister say whether, included in Deputy Childers' account, there is a trip from the city to Horseleap, in my constituency, for the 18th January, 1948, when the Deputy and a number of passengers used a State car for the trip, and can he say whether it is his intention to institute legal proceedings against the three Deputies if they fail to comply with the Seventh Commandment?
We invite the Minister to try it. Will the Minister state if these cars were provided under the direction of the Chief Commissioner of the Garda Síochána, and if any bill has been sent to him?
It is true to say that the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána should not have allowed the cars to go, and he has been notified of this particular matter.
Will the Minister say whether any ex-Ministers of the former Fine Gael Government are still, to some extent, using State cars?
That is a separate question.
It seems to be very relevant.
Is it not true?
I would ask the Deputy to repeat his supplementary question.
I asked if the Minister would state whether former members of the Fine Gael Government are still using State cars.
That question could have been addressed to my predecessor any time within the last 16 years.
We did not object to it. If this matter is going to be raised here we will have it all out.
I am quite prepared to have it all out, but I did not want any acrimonious discussion. I have simply answered the question.
Do you propose to institute proceedings against a Deputy whose character is slightly blemished for perjury?
That has nothing to do with the question.