asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that extreme damage was caused recently in a riot in Dundalk, including damage to the local Garda station and cars parked there; and if, in view of the nature of this rioting, he will arrange to have any charge for malicious injuries which may be placed on any local authority as a result of court proceedings borne by the Exchequer.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dundalk Malicious Damage.
37.
The State is not lodging a malicious injuries claim in respect of damage suffered by the Garda station or other State property in the riot. As regards the damage to other property, the law provides that any compensation that may be awarded by the courts is a liability of the local authorities. The question of any amendment to the law in this respect is a matter for the Minister for Justice. In this connection the Deputy's attention is directed to Question No. 26 of 15th December, 1971.
Does the Minister accept that this was not what one might call normal malicious injury, that it was a riot which had to do with the disturbed state of the country at the time and that there is a precedent in so far as payment had to be made in respect of the British Embassy? Surely the local authority in Louth should not be asked to pay for these damages?
As I have indicated, the State is not lodging a malicious injury claim and the Deputy may take that as a recognition of the nature of the disturbance on that occasion. On the question of reimbursing the local authority for claims which they may suffer, I repeat that this is a matter for the Minister for Justice.
Can he not legislate?
He can but he will not.
I have referred the Deputy to a reply given by the Minister for Justice.
I do not know what was in it.
I gave the reference— Question No. 26 of 15th December last.