asked the Taoiseach whether he has read the newspaper report of the 6th March, 1951, of the speech delivered by Mr. R.J.P. Mortished and whether, in view of the position as chairman of the Labour Court which Mr. Mortished holds, he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Labour Court Chairman's Speech.
asked the Taoiseach if he has seen the newspaper accounts of a recent speech made by the chairman of the Labour Court, Mr. R.J.P. Mortished, at University College, Cork, in the course of which Mr. Mortished is reported as having criticised national policy in regard to the unification of the country; if he will state whether there are any rules, conventions or regulations governing the making of such statements by persons holding such positions and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.
I have seen newspaper reports of the speech referred to by the Deputies.
I do not question Mr. Mortished's right to express freely his convictions and opinions, but—while there are no specific rules or regulations in the matter—I feel obliged to say that a person holding a quasi-judicial office, as Mr. Mortished does, is rightly expected to maintain a reserve in political matters, to exercise great discretion in regard to public discussions of questions of national policy and to refrain from taking part, in a controversial way, in any such discussion. Looking at the matter from this point of view, the Government consider that, in their tone and general content, Mr. Mortished's remarks on the occasion referred to, as reported, were ill-advised and improper.
Can I take it from the Taoiseach's reply that he disapproves of Mr. Mortished's entry, in the manner specified in the question, into the field of controversial politics and will the Taoiseach express an opinion as to whether it is in the national interest to have the occupant of a position such as that which Mr. Mortished occupies expressing a point of view on Partition contrary to that which is held on both sides of this House?
The answer to the first part of the Deputy's supplementary question is "yes". The second part of his question asks me to express an opinion, and requests for expressions of opinion are not supposed to be dealt with in answers to queries.
Would the Taoiseach consider finding other and more suitable employment for Mr. Mortished than that which he already has?
Is it not a fact that Deputy C. Lehane was trying to find other and more suitable employment for Dr. Browne?
That is quite irrelevant.
That is worthy of the Deputy. We found other employment for the Deputy.