asked the Minister for Justice if he will state (i) whether inquiries have been completed into the allegations first communicated to the Government in September, 1947, and referred to by the present Minister for External Affairs in Enniscorthy on the 31st January, 1948, that persons connected with the Government were guilty of fraud in connection with Government contracts, petrol rationing and price control Orders; and, if so, what the result of these inquiries has been; (ii) whether there was delay at any stage in pursuing these inquiries and, if so, the circumstances; (iii) whether any court proceedings have been instituted or are contemplated as a result of the inquiries, and if so, whether he will give particulars: (iv) finally, whether, as a result of the inquiries, it has been disclosed that any person connected with the last Government was in any way involved.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Allegations of Fraud.
Mr. Boland
The allegations referred to were to the following effect: (i) that a certain firm which had contracts to supply turf to Government Departments had given short weight over a number of years; (ii) that this firm had obtained excessive quantities of petrol for the haulage of turf and had blackmarketed the petrol so obtained; and (iii) that a number of persons, including a Fianna Fáil Senator and the chairman of a public board, had obtained petrol irregularly from this firm.
The inquiries into the allegations have been completed and have resulted in the prosecution and conviction of the firm for contraventions of the rationing and price control Orders in connection with the sale of petrol and in the prosecution and conviction of two other firms for the purchase of petrol. The Attorney-General decided that there was not sufficient evidence to warrant any other prosecutions.
I am satisfied that there was no avoidable delay in the investigation of the allegations.
Mr. Boland
The Minister did not answer (iv) of my question, namely, whether as a result of the inquiries, it has been disclosed that any person connected with the last Government was in any way involved. I should like him to answer that.
In (iii) of my reply I have answered the Deputy. Part (iii) of the reply states that a number of persons, including a Fianna Fáil Senator and the chairman of a public board, had obtained petrol irregularly from this firm, and in the last part of the reply——
Then why were they not charged for that?
Listen to the Minister's reply.
Wait for the answer. I have informed the Deputy, in the last portion of my reply, that the Attorney-General decided that there was not sufficient evidence——
Mr. Boland
Or any evidence. Did he say that there was no evidence at all?
There was none.
Will you listen, please?
Mr. Boland
I am listening.
I will repeat what I have said for the benefit of the Deputy.
Mr. Boland
I have already heard it.
The Attorney-General decided that there was not sufficient evidence——
No evidence.
——to warrant any other prosecutions. There was evidence, and I can give it to the Deputy if he wants it, but I think he had better leave it alone.
Indeed, we will not.
Mr. Boland
Will the Minister admit that from the very outset this was a question for police investigation solely and that any reputable firm of solicitors would have so advised the person who made the complaint and, further, that the present Taoiseach and the present Minister for External Affairs, who advised that a public inquiry should be held, were acting more as mud-slinging politicians than as reputable lawyers?
Question No. 38.
Mr. Boland
Excuse me, Sir, I want an answer to my question.
Question No. 38.
Mr. Boland
I wish to give notice that I am raising this matter on the Adjournment.