asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that an election address on behalf of a candidate was printed on Oireachtas paper; if he has made any regulations governing the use of such paper for election purposes; and, if so, what they are.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Election Address.
17.
While there are no regulations on the subject, it will be appreciated that Oireachtas stationery is meant to be used only by Deputies and Senators for purposes connected with their parliamentary duties.
If the Deputy is aware of any instance where Oireachtas stationery was used for any other purposes, I would suggest that he bring the matter to the notice of the Committee of Procedure and Privileges.
Is the Minister aware that many thousands of election addresses were sent to people in the Mount Merrion area and that the residents of South County Dublin are perturbed about receiving election addresses at their own expense? These addresses were signed by Deputy Barry Desmond. They were written on Oireachtas paper and enclosed in Oireachtas envelopes.
Deputies
A disgrace.
Can the Minister say if this Deputy will be surcharged for the abuse of Oireachtas mail? The fact that he is an inexperienced Deputy does not excuse Deputy Desmond. Will the Minister make some statement on what action can be taken against Deputies who send out election addresses on Oireachtas paper?
What about Ministers' Christmas cards?
Is the Minister aware that 35,000 officially printed election addresses, copies of which are available to this House and to Deputy Dowling, were issued through the post? This may be verified by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs. Those election addresses were sent out on good quality art paper by trade union labour in an official printing firm in this city and were issued to a number of families in the area in which I live. I issued a circular by my own hand, as is the normal practice for Deputies in this House, in support of a candidate, bringing him to the attention of local residents in the area in which I live. Such issuing of occasional circulars in no way compares with the tremendous use of State cars——
This does not arise. The question of State cars does not arise on this question.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
On the face of it the allegation made by Deputy Dowling is a serious one. I am not prepared to give an off-the-cuff answer to the question he put to me because I would want to know more about the matter. Certainly, it would appear on the face of the allegation he made that this matter is a breach of the regulations and should be investigated.
Would the Minister quote the regulations?
In view of the gravity with which the Minister regards this alleged event can we take it therefore that he will be issuing instructions to the various members of the Government not to use official post for the issue of hundreds of thousands of Christmas cards?
Question No. 18.
May I ask the Minister if he is aware that Deputy Collins, Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, the director of elections for his party in South County Dublin, issued through the Minister's office, using official Oireachtas notepaper, various instructions to people regarding their conduct and their official work in this election?
That is not true.
It is true. I saw the letter.
(Interruptions.)
Order. Will Deputy Desmond please allow the Minister to reply?
There are regulations which govern the use of the Oireachtas free postage scheme, the use of official postage by Ministers, the use of State cars and so on. The important point is to ensure that such regulations are complied with. I admit that in the case of the Oireachtas stationery and free postage there have been cases in the past which have created doubts. It is important from the point of view of every Deputy that these things should not be abused. As I have said, on the face of it the allegation made by Deputy Dowling would seem to require some inquiry.
What about the Christmas cards?
I am not sending any out this year.
Would the Minister say if there is provision in the regulations whereby a Fianna Fáil Deputy can convene a meeting of a sporting organisation using official notepaper?
No Deputy on this side has ever done that.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
Does the Minister know that Deputy Dowling broke every recognised rule and regulation in the course of this campaign?
That is not true.
There is no accepted rule he has not broken in the course of this campaign.
There are no regulations about State cars.
The regulation is that they are to be used by Ministers as they would use their own private cars.
What about the Christmas cards?
That does not arise.
While I recognise that the election address sent out by Deputy Desmond will not in any way help the candidate, because it was signed by him, I think the many thousands of those letters which were sent out to the families in Mount Merrion and addressed "Dear Elector" by a Deputy who does not even live in the constituency is an abuse——
I live next door to it.
——and the people of Dublin South County are very perturbed about this.
Question No. 18.
Deputy Haughey sent out 17,000 Christmas cards using official postage.