I understand the Minister wishes to make a statement in respect to the motion.
Private Members' Business. - Gaeltarra Éireann—Motion for Select Committee (Resumed).
Debate resumed on the following motion:—
That a Select Committee, consisting of 11 members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection, of whom four shall be a quorum, be appointed with power to send for persons, papers and records, to inquire into and report back to the Dáil within three months on the management and conduct generally of the affairs of the Gaeltarra Éireann section of the Department of the Gaeltacht, with particular reference to the production and marketing of Gaeltarra Éireann goods over the past five years.— (Deputies Lindsay and O'Donnell.)
On last Wednesday night, Deputy Lindsay, at the end of his speech, made very grave allegations of a criminal nature in connection with the conduct of the affairs of Gaeltarra Éireann. Deputy Lindsay is aware, although the House may not be, that the records of Gaeltarra Éireann were forthwith impounded and the matter of the allegations made by the Deputy placed in the hands of the Garda for investigation.
I think that, in these circumstances, I should say nothing further at this stage until the Garda have completed their investigations. I suggest that the motion be adjourned until the Garda have gone into the matters alleged by the Deputy. I should tell the House that the Garda are at present engaged in these investigations.
Might I ask the Minister a question? Was it the Minister who directed the Garda to proceed in accordance with what he has described?
The Minister for Justice, at the instance of the Government and myself.
I take it that the debate merely stands adjourned and that we shall be given time for it later?
The debate will merely stand adjourned. It is a matter for arrangement between the Whips.
There will be no difficulty about that.
I wish to accept the suggestion of the Minister that this debate stand adjourned, pending the investigation of the Garda into the allegations which I have made. I welcome this attitude on the part of the Government, however belated I might consider it. It is a matter of regret, not alone for me but for the country as a whole, that the information which I offered to place at the disposal of the Minister and the Government on Wednesday night last, 26th February, was not sought from me until the afternoon of the 28th.
I have agreed to co-operate with the Minister for Justice and his officers. All I ask in return is the full confidence not alone of the Minister and the Department of the Gaeltacht, but of the Department of Justice and their officers. In welcoming this attitude on the part of the Government, all I can do at this stage is to ask the House, the officers concerned, civil servants and traders all over this country to respond to the voices of conscience and restore integrity in some small measure.
I must correct the allegation of the Deputy in regard to the suggestion that no action was taken. The charges were made by the Deputy at approximately 9.30 on Wednesday night last. The following morning all documents relevant to this matter were impounded by my Department. Following a meeting of the Government on Friday morning, every effort was made to contact Deputy Lindsay to see would he be prepared to make a statement to the Garda. The Deputy was not available.
That is what he said.
The Deputy was not available until Monday morning. Without the invitation sent by the Minister for Justice, we felt it would not be proper, in dealing with the privileges of this House, to send any Garda officer to Deputy Lindsay.
Were the allegations not made on 19th February?
The allegations in question were made on the last night of this debate at approximately 9.30.
This is a Private Members' period. Irrespective of whatever the findings of the proceedings now taking place outside the jurisdiction of the House are, will Government time be made available for the continuation of this motion? Private Members' time finishes within the next fortnight, due to Government business coming on. Will Government time be given to have this motion continued or clarified, irrespective of the single aspect being dealt with through criminal proceedings?
I have already assured the House we shall make time available to conclude the debate on this motion when the properly qualified people to investigate these charges, the Garda officers, have completed their investigations.
I have no doubt about that. It can be raised by the Whips.
Yes.
Debate adjourned.