Vol. 225 No. 4
Last night, Deputy Sweetman raised as a matter of privilege the following statement by Mr. T.P. Hogan, Chairman of Córas Iompair Éireann:
There are about 2,900,000 people in Ireland. Of these 22,000 work for CIE. Subtract that from the total, and you get the number of people in Ireland who think they can run CIE, including characters in the Dáil, who can't even run themselves.
The Minister included.
I have considered the matter and the words are not, in my view, of such a nature that they could be considered a prima facie breach of the privileges of the House.
He is making a good start as Chairman of CIE anyhow.
A criticism of Members of the Dáil is not necessarily a breach of privilege.
If you are ruling that it is not a breach of privilege, will you acknowledge that the words are grossly offensive, but only to be expected from the stooge put into CIE by the present Taoiseach so as to put his brother in as managing director to lose more money?
And that is not a breach of privilege and grossly offensive?
My ruling determines only a procedural point, namely, that any motion Deputy Sweetman may make does not necessarily get precedence over other business.
On another matter of privilege, about 7.15 p.m. last night, 8th November, while the House was in session, a person who is not a Member of the House, to wit, Senator Joseph Lenehan, entered below the barrier of the House and spoke to the Minister for Local Government, who was then in the Government benches.
I request that the incident be notified to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges for consideration so far as it affects the privileges of this House, and for appropriate action.
I take that matter as notice.
We did not hear the Ceann Comhairle.
I said I take that matter as notice.
Do I understand this matter will be brought to the Committee's attention by you?
I will consider it and give a decision.
