asked the Minister for External Affairs if the passport of a person (name supplied) has been withdrawn.
Ceisteanna—Questious. Oral Answers. - Withdrawal of Passport.
5.
I understand that the question of surrender of this passport has arisen in connection with court proceedings. This is not a matter which comes within my responsibility and in any case as the matter is sub judice it would not be proper for me to say anything more about it.
Is the Minister aware that this person has drawn cheques at a value of approximately £379,000 on different marts in this country? As the matter is sub judice I do not intend to say very much about it, but as the Minister is probably aware the bails in this case are approximately £6,000. Does the Minister consider this sufficient to safeguard the people upon whom these cheques have been drawn?
If, as the Minister says, the matter is sub judice, I cannot see how we can discuss it.
What I want to know is if the Minister intends to withdraw this person's passport or if the Garda authorities requested the withdrawal of his passport.
It is not normal practice to give information about passports in the Dáil and I should not like to depart from that. As I have said, the passport question has been raised because of the court proceedings and the matter is sub judice.
Normal practice is one thing but there is widespread anxiety over this matter.
If the case is sub judice as the Minister has pointed out, the Deputy must accept that and there can be no discussion.
I am not saying anything that would interfere with the court proceedings, but this is an abnormal case. Because of the total value of the money involved, £379,000——
The Deputy is making a reflection on a private individual and the Chair cannot allow the Deputy to continue in view of the fact that the matter is sub judice.
Arising out of that——
Will the Deputy please resume his seat?
A Cheann Comhairle, I would ask——
I will ask the Deputy to leave the House if he does not resume his seat.
A Cheann Comhairle——
The Deputy must have some regard for the Rules of Order.
A Cheann Comhairle, I do not wish to be disrespectful to you——
Then the Deputy will sit down.
——and, as the Ceann Comhairle has requested me to sit down, I shall do so.