asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the fact that the State car provided for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries was used in Limerick at Kilteely on Sunday, 12th May, 1968 with Fianna Fáil election posters affixed to it, and that such cars are driven by members of the Garda Síochána who maintain political impartiality, he will take steps to ensure that party symbols are not displayed on State cars, and that the Garda Síochána are not made to appear to be associated with any political party.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Party Symbols on State Cars.
14.
On the occasion in question a poster was temporarily displayed on the car during a meeting addressed by the Parliamentary Secretary.
I do not consider that the matter calls for any action.
Does the Minister not realise that members of the Garda Síochána should not appear to be associated with members of any political Party and further that they should not drive a car bearing Fianna Fáil or other political Party literature? Does he realise that in this particular case the Parliamentary Secretary stated that he would do what he liked with the car in future when he was challenged by Deputy Tom O'Higgins on the public platform, and in view of that statement, how can we believe that what the Minister has said now is correct?
We may be slightly off the beam on the question of Deputy O'Higgins's veracity. He made an allegation in regard to myself that the Mercedes State car which he saw carried Fianna Fáil literature. In fact, it was a Mercedes car of a supporter of ours and my State car was not within a quarter of a mile of the meeting. That is the strength of Deputy O'Higgins's veracity——
(Interruptions.)
In regard to Deputy L'Estrange's habit of twisting facts, there was no question of a State car being driven with posters on it. What happened was that a supporter of ours placed the poster on the car while the meeting was taking place.
(Interruptions.)
I admit that was wrong but that is the height of the offence. It was no more than that. If Deputy L'Estrange would stop making mountains out of molehills and get down to the practical business which we are sent here to do, it would be better for him.
I am sorry I cannot accept the Minister's explanation.
(Interruptions.)
Fine Gael supporters stuck their posters on my car.