asked the Minister for Justice the total amount of organisation and management fees paid to the promoters of the Irish Hospital Sweepstakes from the commencement of the sweepstakes up to and including the sweepstake on the Lincoln, 1973.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Hospital Sweepstakes.
50.
In accordance with the provisions of the Public Hospitals Act, 1933 audited accounts of all sweepstakes are furnished to every Member of the Oireachtas. These accounts give particulars of the organisation and management fees paid to the promoters of the Irish Hospitals Sweepstakes. Copies of all accounts, including the account for the sweepstake on the Lincoln 1973, are available in the Library.
Is the Minister aware that in a recent Press report— in the last five minutes we had the Minister expressing doubts that he believes newspaper reports—it was stated that the Irish Hospitals Trust pay something like £500,000 rent each year for use of the Irish Hospitals Trust buildings? If that is correct there is something phoney——
That is a separate question.
Would the Minister investigate the Press statement?
That obviously is a separate question.
I do not think so. If it is correct that Irish Hospitals Trust pay £500,000 rent each year to Irish Hospitals Trust, and I will not comment further on the Press report or whether it is correct—the Minister said a few moments ago that they do not write things correctly—is it not worthy of investigation?
First of all, I did not make an allegation that the Press do not write things correctly. What I said is that the report in question was not capable of substantiation by the Garda. That is completely different from what the Deputy has suggested. Secondly, if the Deputy has a question in reference to a further newspaper report and if he puts it down I will endeavour to answer it.
Is it not normal, in answering a question of this kind, for the Minister's officials to do the sum and to give the answer sought in the question?
That is a matter that has to be considered in the context of Parliamentary Questions. I understand Parliamentary Questions as being for the purpose of eliciting information which the Dáil or the public could not otherwise get. The information sought in this question is available in documents in the Oireachtas Library. There are pressures on my Department and from the point of view of priority there are many matters of more urgency than detailing an official or officials to do tots going back to 1930.
The Minister will recall that on many occasions in the past, as a matter of courtesy, Ministers have given such information.