With your permission, I would like to draw your attention and the attention of the House to a mistake which occurred last week and which, I think, constitutes a breach of privilege. Copies of the Appropriation Accounts for the year 1947-48 were issued to the newspapers before being made available to the House officially or to members of the House. It has always been a matter of privilege that such publications should first be published to the House. Apparently, copies were issued on the evening of Thursday last to the Press. Up to the time the House adjourned at 2 p.m. on Friday no copy was available to Deputies either in the Library or in the office. This may appear to be a somewhat trivial matter but I understand that this is by no means the first time on which something like this first time when something like this to raise it now so that if the House, by taking notice, could prevent a recurrence of such a breach of privilege, it might be to our advantage.
Circulation of Official Publications.
The Deputy's complaint seems to be well founded.
May I explain? What the Deputy has said is perfectly correct, as far as dates are concerned. I hope the House and the Deputy will understand that the mistake which occurred was not deliberate. Parcels were made up and one parcel went to the Stationery Office sales side and was released to the Press. There was no intention of having publication available to the Press before copies were available to members of the Dáil. My Department did not get copies in time to complete presentation to the Dáil by putting them in the Library until after the House rose on Friday. I think an accident like this only occurred once before and the Deputy is inaccurate in saying that it has occurred on occasions. The Deputy will take my apology and assurance now that, so far as I am concerned, it shall not occur again.
I did not mean to convey that it had occurred previously with regard to the Appropriation Accounts. It has occurred with regard to publication.
I was not aware of that.
The Minister is answering for his own Department.