asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which a substantially accurate account of the Government's decision to acquire the Córas Iompair Éireann and Grand Canal undertakings was published in advance of the official announcement of that decision.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Córas Iompair Éireann and Grand Canal.
I presume that the Deputy is referring to an article which appeared in the Irish Independent on the 2nd February, 1949, purporting to give an account of Government decisions regarding transport. I am not in a position to state the circumstances in which this article was published in a newspaper for which I have no responsibility, officially or otherwise.
Every intelligent journalist is entitled to exercise his ingenuity on known facts and, therefore, to draw such conclusions or intelligent anticipations as he may deem proper. I am fully satisfied that that is what happened in this case. I wish to state emphatically that there was no disclosure in advance of the decisions which were taken by the Government and were officially announced on the 4th February, and that there was no leakage of information in regard to those decisions.
Would the Taoiseach state by what process of inquiry he satisfied himself that there was no leakage of information?
I know the precise facts and I know that there was no leakage of information.
Am I to gather from that reply that, in fact, there has been no inquiry into the leakage?
Why should the Deputy gather that?
Has there been an inquiry?
I have satisfied myself on the facts that there has been no leakage of information. I am quite satisfied that there has been no improper disclosure.
He does not say how he satisfied himself.