asked the Minister for Education whether in order to en sure that competent legal advice would be available to the Governing Body of University College, Dublin, the Government appointed any barrister of senior counsel status as their nominee to the Governing Body; what were the names of such counsel appointed over the last ten years; whether such counsel gave the Government at any time to understand that the Governing Body were in counsel's opinion acting improperly in making appointments to the staff of the College; and, if not, whether such counsel acted in accordance with their responsibilities as Government nominees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Governing Body of University College, Dublin.
43.
The Government did not appoint any person to the Governing Body of University College Dublin for the purpose stated and, therefore, the remainder of the question does not arise.
Could the Minister say whether any person of senior counsel status was appointed to the Governing Body as Government nominee?
I have not that information but they would not be appointed for the purpose which the Deputy implied in his Question.
Is the Minister not aware of the Government nominees on the Governing Body?
That is an entirely separate matter.
With different elements on the Governing Body there could be no question that illegal appointments could be made by the President. In view of the fact that four people were nominated by the Government on the last occasion of the election of a Governing Body, one of whom was a prominent senior counsel, were the Government therefore not in a position, through their appointments to the Governing Body, to know what was going on?
That is an entirely separate matter.
Surely this arises— does the Minister not know who the Government appointees are on the Governing Body?
That does not arise from the question.
With all due respect, Deputy Dr. Browne asked whether the Government had appointed any barrister or senior counsel and that information is surely available to the Minister?
The Minister has answered that question.
The question was whether in order to ensure that competent legal advice would be available to the Governing Body the Government had made such an appointment and the answer was that the Government did not appoint anybody for the purpose stated.