asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if any direction has been given by his Department to the Registrar of Friendly Societies regarding the holding of office in a friendly society by members of the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Friendly Societies.
73.
No such direction has been given nor has my Department any authority to issue such a direction.
Does the Minister think it is in the interests of public life and everything that goes with it that a Member of this House should hold an office in such a Society, that he should sign cheques payable for housing grants and that he should delay payment of a grant issued by the Department of Local Government on 20th December, 1968, and not received by the applicant until 7th March, 1969? Does the Minister for Industry and Commerce, through the Minister for Lands, consider that this is an acceptable position? Is it in keeping with the high standard that is to be expected of people in public life?
I have answered the Deputy's question, which was whether any direction had been given by the Department to the Registrar of Friendly Societies regarding the holding of office in a friendly society by Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas. The answer is that no such direction was given.
May I ask the Minister in view of the fact that a Member of this House, namely Deputy Cunningham——
This does not arise on the question.
Will the Deputy behave himself?
If no direction was given——
We are not discussing the administration of any society and it cannot be discussed.
What I am asking is, in view of the fact that a Member of this House——
The does not arise.
——holding such an office has delayed the payment of a grant for three months——
The Deputy is making charges against a Member of the House.
I am not making charges. I am stating a fact.
That is why the Deputy will be always there. Behave yourself.
Does the Minister consider that it is appropriate——
The Deputy will never get elected. That is not good politics.
I do not accept that what Deputy Harte says is a fact.
I am telling the House, on my word of honour, that it is a fact, that a grant released by the Department of Local Government on 20th December was not received until 7th March and that it was signed by Deputy Cunningham——
That does not arise on this question. Will the Deputy please resume his seat?
It is no wonder people like Dr. Harty are making public statements.
Corner boy stuff.
I protest against it. I am not in sympathy with it if you are. If you condone it I do not.
Corner boy stuff.
In view of what I have stated, and it is on the record of the House, would the Minister now take action?
I do not accept what the Deputy has said as being a fact.
Why do you not accept it?
Because it is corner boy behaviour.
Is the Minister saying that I am telling an untruth in this House? I have had this investigated and I stand over it and I protest in the strongest possible terms. It brings representation in this House into disrepute.
Will Deputy Harte please allow Questions to continue?
74.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what connection exists between his Department and the Registrar of Friendly Societies; and if sanction from his Department is necessary for any action taken by the Registrar.
The Registrar of Friendly Societies is appointed by me with the consent of the Minister for Finance, and his staff, and their accommodation, are provided by my Department.
The Registrar is himself responsible for the registration of the various classes of societies and for securing their compliance with the provisions of the relevant Acts. The Registrar is required to obtain my sanction for action taken by him only in a limited number of specific instances; for example, the cancellation of a society's registration and the appointment of inspectors to investigate the affairs of a society.