The Minister for Justice desires to make a personal explanation.
Personal Explanation by Minister.
Last evening when Deputy Flanagan asked a question in respect of the sale of an Austin Princess car he made a statement in a supplementary question to which I replied: "It is a pure canard." That was not reported in the Official Report. I must admit that there was a considerable amount of interruption taking place at the time, but I used the same word on a second occasion and in neither case was it reported. Deputy Flanagan insisted on repeating the statement that a member of the Boland family had driven out the Princess car. Arising out of that, I have made special inquiries at the Depot where the Princess car was kept and I have been assured beyond any question that there was no such thing as anyone driving out the Princess car much less a member of the Boland family. In view of that statement—it is a statement of fact—I expect that the Deputy will now apologise to Deputy Boland——
The Minister knows very well that Mr. Boland drove the car back again and that the car is now in the Depot covered up. It is now back again. Everybody knows that.
Will the Deputy be manly enough to make the apology?
I shall not do anything of the kind.
There is no motion before the House and I cannot allow the discussion to go any further.
(Interruptions.)
Everybody knows.
Everybody knows what?
They seem to know more than the Minister knows.
I have made a very definite statement that I had an official inquiry made and I have been assured by people who have no interest either in Deputy Flanagan or in the Boland family that the statement is entirely false and without foundation.
Does the Minister agree that a hackney firm in which Mr. Boland is a partner have purchased the motor car? The Minister knows very well Mr. Boland had the car.
The matter is now finished.
I think there is no reason why this should not be ended by announcing that the Austin Princess was in fact purchased by C.I.E.
The Minister knows now.
Will the Deputy now apologise?
No; Mr. Boland still bought the car.
Read what Judge O'Byrne said.
Mr. Boland bought the car, probably from Dr. Andrews.
At the expense of the West Cork Railway, no doubt.
(Interruptions.)
Now they have the wind up. We are able to find out the trickery.
Fine Gael, Fine Gael!
We would have a long road to travel before we would overtake Fianna Fáil. You stirred up more mud than you could carry.
Stick to it now.
That one was well cooked up today.