asked the Minister for Local Government whether he has received a request from certain members of the South Tipperary County Council to withhold sanction in the case of certain appointments as rate collectors purported to have been made at a meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, 7th June, until there has been an opportunity of investigating the circumstances in which for purpose of prejudicing the decision of the Council in the matter a member of the Council was forcibly and unlawfully removed from the area and prevented from attending the meeting; if he has received a report from the Minister of Justice on the matter as reported to the local Gardaí by the member who suffered this unlawful interference; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of Rate Collectors in South Tipperary.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. No report in the matter has been received from the Minister for Justice. No proposal regarding appointments of rate collectors dealt with at the meeting of Tipperary (S.R.) County Council on the 7th June has been submitted by the local authority. Pending the receipt of a proposal from the local authority, the matter does not call for any action on my part.
Does the Minister not realise that it calls for some assurance that until the matter, which has been reported to the Guards, has been fully investigated the Minister will not proceed to sanction any appointments purported to have been made?
Just to be clear on the matter, is the Minister aware that there is "sangling" at every meeting where there is an appointment——
Well, now!
The appointment should be made by the Local Appointments Commission.
This is a particular instance.
It happens all over the place.
Is the Minister aware that, although this matter is sub judice, Fine Gael speakers on every political platform in Tipperary are making political propaganda out of it and are intimating that they are going to see that the appointments will not be sanctioned?
Can the Minister reply to my Supplementary Question? The Minister has indicated that no action is called for by him at the moment because he has not received any recommendation from the council but, in view of the statements that have been made to the Guards, and the answer of the Minister for Justice, will the Minister say whether he will withhold sanctioning any proposal that may come forward until the matters have been fully investigated and reported on?
The Deputy can be fully assured that, in so far as my function in this or any other related matter is concerned, the full facts will be made known to me before I make a decision.
Questions Nos. 12 to 16, inclusive, postponed.