In the course of his reply to my Dáil Question on 20th June, 1962, as reported in Volume 196, No. 4, column 572 of the Official Debates, in which I asked the Minister for Health the studies affecting the fluorine content of food which the Food Advisory Committee recommended should be undertaken, the Minister stated that the terms in which I had framed my Question were plainly calculated to suggest that I had access to a confidential official document.
As the Minister suggested that I had improper access to confidential information, and thereby implied that some person or persons improperly disclosed confidential information to me, I wish to state that my only source of information in the matter was a reply by the Minister for Health to a Parliamentary Question of mine on 27th March, 1962—reported in Volume 194, No. 4, column 470—in which the Minister informed me that the Food Advisory Committee had recommended that certain studies be undertaken regarding the fluorine content of food.
I feel sure that the Minister overlooked the information which he gave to me on 27th March last and will wish to apologise for his suggestion. I shall accept his apology.
