asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that the firm appointed to audit the accounts of a body (name supplied) have informed the members that the body's books and records were in an unsatisfactory condition and that they could not give an unqualified certificate to the members in respect of the 1969 accounts; and whether in view of this he still proposes to make available to this body the grant recently approved.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Accounts of Body.
46.
The grant referred to is in respect of a special survey being carried out by the body in question at my request. I undertook to bear the expenses of the survey and I accordingly propose to pay instalments of the grant as they fall due.
As the body in question is a company limited by guarantee, any action arising from the auditors' report is a matter between the members of the body in question and its council.
Would the Minister agree that since this body, An Taisce, cannot account satisfactorily for the income they received last year, it would be unwise to pay them the £5,000 already provided in the Supplementary Estimate this year to carry out a survey of the great houses and gardens of Ireland?
First, let me say that basically the survey is a survey of provincial museums and I want to underline the fact that this survey was carried out by An Taisce at my request. I asked them to make this survey and I promised to pay the cost of doing it. I would not be prepared to go back on that agreement.
Would the Minister not agree in the light of Deputy Dowling's question that by a reference of this nature to An Taisce which makes no mention of the accompanying explanation by the executive council of that body in relation to its funds—this was omitted from Deputy Dowling's question in a highly selective and grossly unfair manner—the Minister indeed shares the implications of Deputy Dowling's question?
I do not think that Deputy Dowling's question affects the issue one way or another.
(Interruptions.)
As I understand it, the auditors of this organisation have made a certain report to their share-holders——
Nothing unusual about it.
That is a matter of opinion. Certainly, it was a qualified report and that report of the auditors has been widely broadcast to all the members. All the members of An Taisce are fully aware of the situation.
Is the Minister aware that the auditors' report to which he has referred also indicates that the organisation were suffering from a lack of proper accommodation and that this matter is now being rectified and that in fact the nature of the report is quite contrary to that indicated by Deputy Dowling? Deputy Dowling's description of the report is quite incorrect and in fact the report was not as critical as Deputy Dowling would wish to suggest. He would wish to kill An Taisce just as the Minister for Local Government would wish to do.
When did I say it?
In your speech last week.
I said they should account for their subscription.
Order.
Deputy Dowling and the Minister for Local Government are out to kill An Taisce with a witch-hunt.
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy is witch-hunting now.
I am not at all concerned with the internal affairs of An Taisce as an organisation. That is a matter to be straightened out between the auditors and the members. Deputy Dowling was concerned about the payment to this organisation of a grant from public funds. He has every right to be concerned about it and to ask me any question he wishes——
He is not one bit concerned. They want to kill An Taisce, Deputy Dowling and the Minister for Local Government.
——about any money I propose to pay out.
What is the use of talking this kind of rubbish?
(Interruptions.)
Order. Question No. 47.