asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that a county manager and a town clerk did not inform the members of a local authority (particulars supplied) over a number of years that they had no legal authority to exclude the press from their meetings without first obtaining his sanction; and if he will inform such officials, as well as officials of other local authorities, that it is their duty to inform members of a council when they are about to take a decision which is contrary to local government law.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Exclusion of Press from Local Authority Meetings.
19.
I am not aware that the position is as stated by the Deputy and I do not propose to issue any general directives on the matter.
20.
asked the Minister for Local Government if, in view of his recent statement that local authorities had no legal authority to exclude the press from their meetings without his express sanction, he will now investigate the exclusion of the press by a local authority (particulars supplied) and other local authorities over a long period; and if, in view of the fact that the general public and the ratepayers, in particular, were denied the necessary information as to what transpired at council meetings during the periods that the press was excluded he will take steps to direct county managers and local authorities as to their responsibilities in this matter; if the business transacted by local authorities during the periods that the press was excluded was in fact legal; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to legalise the decisions taken.
I am informed that for a period of approximately three months in 1961, the local authority referred to conducted the business of its monthly meetings "in committee", members of the press being excluded. Following representations to the authority by the National Union of Journalists the practice was discontinued and during the past five years meetings have been held in the normal manner and press representatives have been freely admitted.
There is no evidence to suggest that during the period referred to the proceedings of the local authority were invalidated and I do not consider that any action on my part is now called for.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary further investigate this matter because even at present the position is that the press and the public are excluled from these meetings? The Parliamentary Secretary's information should be re-investigated.
What about another sworn inquiry there to clear up the matter?
My information is as stated in the reply.
The position is not as stated by the Parliamentary Secretary.
If the Deputy could let us have all the information which he has, then we will see——
I am sure that the Minister for Labour would be in a better position to supply information.
How would I know?
It happened in the Minister's own town of Kilkee.