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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Mar 1949

Vol. 114 No. 13

Business of Dáil.

Yesterday I asked your permission to raise a certain matter on the Adjournment. The matter was as to the designation of people who are patented as senior counsel and——

The Deputy will have to explain what he is rising for now.

The same old dog to-day.

——and you, in replying to me, said that you could not see that any further development on any point could be envisaged except to advocate new legislation or to criticise the professional conduct of the Taoiseach. I want to point out that I had no such intention, and that I was criticising the Taoiseach as a politician.

The Deputy was not criticising anybody, because the question was not allowed.

He is hoping to be able to do so now.

I would like to ask you, Sir, to correct the impression that your remarks might have made because the Taoiseach, as a politician, appealed for votes using the designation K.C. There is his election address. He was patented as senior counsel.

I do not think that I have anything to reply to now. The Deputy wants to make a speech.

I do not want to make a speech, but I would ask you to accept that I propose to criticise the Taoiseach as a politician and not as a professional barrister.

The Deputy spoke of the professional conduct of the Taoiseach. I did not use those words. I presume he is quoting from some report which appeared in today's Press.

I quoted from the Irish Independent.

I have the script before me and I did not use those words. The Taoiseach, as Taoiseach, is always open to criticism, naturally, but not in his personal or professional capacity. If I made any such reflection on the Deputy, I am sorry for it, but I think my words were quite clear. I regret that the Deputy misunderstood me. I did not use the words "professional conduct."

Personal conduct.

"Personal affairs" I said.

Do you accept my——

I accept "personal affairs". If the Deputy feels aggrieved I regret that my words should imply that he was going to do anything more than I said.

Do you accept my word that what I propose to raise was the Taoiseach's election address?

I accept the Deputy's word.

And do you accept that is the business?

I accept the Deputy's word.

Who is in the dock?

Does the Deputy accept the ruling of the Chair?

I would ask you, Sir—— (interruptions).

I would ask you if you would allow me to raise on the Adjournment the political conduct of the Taoiseach in putting himself forward to the electors as a king's counsel when he was, in fact, a senior counsel and thereby getting votes.

The Chair will not allow it on the Adjournment for the reasons stated yesterday.

The Deputy cannot realise that you are trying to save him from himself.

One of the reasons is that such a criticism would be an attack on the personal affairs of the Taoiseach.

I have ruled twice and my ruling must be accepted. I shall not allow it on the Adjournment. I regret if the Deputy misunderstood me.

And the Taoiseach is going to continue to live a lie. He was patented as a senior counsel and he calls himself a king's counsel.

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