asked the Taoiseach if he intends to lay before the House any correspondence he had in connection with the alleged housing scandal in Cork following references to it in the Dáil on 20th April last; and, if so, when.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork City Housing Scheme.
2.
I have had copies of the relevant papers concerned placed in the Library, for the information of Deputies. In order not to prejudice the legal proceedings now pending, certain references to private individuals have had to be deleted from the copies which I have had placed in the Library.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that one would be entitled to view the following as something more than a coincidence? Although the first indication the Taoiseach had of the dissatisfaction of the tenants of these houses in Cork was on 6th March, 1965 and the police and the Attorney General were aware of the circumstances surrounding this scandal in Cork, no action was taken by the Attorney General, although a period of over two years has elapsed. Now, after the Labour Party spotlighted the scandal in this House——
This is not a question.
——the Taoiseach was able to inform the House yesterday——
Clearly, this is a statement.
——that action would be taken within the next few days. Would the Taoiseach not agree that that is a little more than coincidental?
This is a rescue operation on behalf of the Labour Party for not being as vigilant as I was when the matter first came up. I am standing over what I said here two or three weeks ago and the result will be in the Library in a few minutes for anybody who wants to see. That will indicate that not only did I raise this matter with the Attorney General on frequent occasions but that I pressed on him that prosecutions be instituted.
Prosecutions resulted only after it was raised in this House by the Labour Party, although the Taoiseach was aware of it for over two years.
Has the Ceann Comhairle anything to say on this?
This is the first time I heard anything about it. I cannot make a statement on something of which I was not aware.
Could I ask your guidance, Sir, in this one matter? I have certain documents here in connection with this case and I should like your advice as to how I could lay these before the House.
It is not the duty of the Ceann Comhairle to give ad hoc advice on matters of that kind from the Chair.
Surely the Chair would agree that if the Taoiseach is laying certain documents before the House, a Deputy should at least have the same right?
This is quite irregular.
The documents are directly related to this case.
The Chair does not give ad hoc advice to any Member on matters of that kind, especially when legal matters are involved and court proceedings are possible.
Surely the Chair realises that the Fianna Fáil Government are trying to cover up a nasty situation?
I do not know any such thing.
I do not know why the Deputy is persisting in that attitude in the light of stated facts.
I have the facts here. If the Chair will allow me to lay them on the Table, the country will have the facts.