Vol. 205 No. 9
andDr. Browne asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is now in a position to state when the inspector's report into Irish Estates Limited will be circulated to Members; and if, in the meantime, he will arrange to have a copy placed in the Library.
29.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is now in a position to announce the date upon which the report of the inquiry into Irish Estates Limited will be published.
30.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, having regard to the fact that the fortune and reputation of a number of people are affected by the issues which were inquired into in connection with Irish Estates Limited, he will ensure that the report of the inquiry is published immediately.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 29 and 30 together.
I am informed that the printed version of this report will be available within the next few days.
Will the Minister state why it is that the chairman of this company was able to issue his version of the report on the day the Minister in this House, on 24th October last, stated it would be inadvisable for him to say anything about the report until it had been published? Will he state why it is that the chairman of this company issued his own version of the report in which he told the share-holders that irregularities had not occurred when in fact we understand the report states that irregularities had taken place and that substantial losses to the tune of more than £1 million had been incurred? Will the Minister further state why it is that the individual who first insisted on an inquiry into the substantial losses and who was dismissed for his pains has not been supplied with a copy of the report?
That is going beyond the matter in the question.
It is referred to in Deputy Ryan's question, No. 30, which you have taken with this.
It is going beyond the question on the Order Paper.
Section 109 of the Companies Act, which authorises the holding of an inquiry such as was held in this case, obliges me, as Minister for Industry and Commerce, on the inquiry being held, to supply a copy of the report to the company whose affairs are being investigated, and on request a copy to the person who caused the inquiry to be held. I supplied a copy of the report to the company whose affairs were being investigated. If the chairman of that company, having got that report on statutory entitlement, made observations on it, I have no power or control whatsoever in that regard. I am not obliged to supply a copy to anybody else, nor was I asked to do so within the statute.
The chairman of this company issued his version of the report before the Minister answered the question in this House.
The Deputy has said that already.
I did not.
Question No. 31.
He issued his version before the Minister answered questions in this House in relation to it——
The Deputy must cease. He has said all that already.
In view of the Minister's collusion with the chairman, the public were prevented from knowing the facts until after the chairman had put across his version of the facts. Why was this matter not dealt with under what will be the new company law? If the new Act on company law had been in operation, is it not a fact the chairman would have been dealt with by the courts for his action?
I am entitled to deny the Deputy's allegation of collusion between me and the chairman of the company. I never discussed this matter, good, bad or indifferent, with the chairman of the company. The Deputy's allegation is a downright untruth which is typical of the Deputy.
The Minister has said I have told an untruth. Is he to be allowed——
I am calling Question No. 31.
I said the Minister gave the chairman of this company a copy of the report——
The Deputy will resume his seat.
——and is it not a fact——
I have called Question No. 31. The Deputy will resume his seat.
Is it not a fact the Minister promised this House he would lay that report in the Oireachtas Library?
The Deputy will resume his seat. Otherwise I shall be forced to name him.
You are very anxious to help the Minister in this.
The Deputy can have any opinion he likes of me but will resume his seat.
We know the collusion that took place here last week.
I hope, Sir, that these remarks have the same effect on you as they have on me.
