It is proposed to take business as on the Order Paper: Items Nos. 6, 2, 4 and 8. It is proposed that the House shall sit until 10.30 p.m., if necessary, to conclude item No. 6— Financial Motions. Should the financial business be concluded before the normal time of Adjournment, 5 p.m., items Nos. 4 and 8 will be taken. Questions will be taken at 3 o'clock.
Order of Business.
Has there been any agreement that the House should sit after 5 p.m.? In the normal course; the House would adjourn at 5 p.m.
No.
In your absence from the Chair last night, Sir, Deputy Killilea stated that in my speech yesterday I referred to a Fianna Dáil meeting held, according to Deputy Killilea, "in a hole at Glenamaddy, County Galway". I drew the attention of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to the fact that I had not made any such statement. My statement was "in a hall in County Galway". I verified this later, but Deputy Killilea still persisted that he had got it from the Official Report. He was asked by the Leas-Cheann Comhairle at the time to withdraw the statement, but he did not do so, and so I seek your protection in the matter, and ask that the Deputy be called on to withdraw it.
I made inquiries in connection with this matter last night and was informed by the official reporters that the document in which the word "hole" appeared was an uncorrected report and that the corrected report would show that the word "hall" was the word used.
Deputy Killilea now accepts that the word "hall" was the word used. This is the first time he had to withdraw.
And Deputy Donnellan is out of a hole.
The matter is concluded now, and that is all that need be said about it.
On a point of order. The statement made by Deputy Killilea definitely throws a slur on the official reporters in giving the impression that a change of words has occurred. Such is not the case.
Proofs have to be corrected, and anybody who knows shorthand outlines will know that it is quite possible for the wrong vowel to be inserted before the outline for "I".
There has never been a change. Deputy Killilea has implied that there has, in order to bolster up his own misstatement.
There is no charge made against the official reporters. Deputy Killilea accepts that the word used was "hall" and that closes the incident.
That matter has been corrected, but there was a further matter I dealt with here yesterday evening concerning a statement made by Deputy Donnellan.
I did not get notice of this, and I should have got notice of what the Deputy intended to raise, so that I would be in a position to understand what he is referring to. If the Deputy wishes to raise any matter, he should give me notice and raise it afterwards in the course of the debate.
I dealt with this matter last night.
If it has been dealt with, what is the point of raising it now?
I thought that when I proved that a statement which was definitely untrue was made in the House, the Deputy making it, even at this stage of his life, would have sufficient honour to withdraw it.
I will prove it is true.
If a Deputy makes a statement which is untrue but which he believes is true, there is no reflection on the Deputy making the statement.
I am accepting his withdrawal.
You are accepting what? I did not withdraw anything.