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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Mar 1974

Vol. 271 No. 7

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 5 and 9 (resumed). Private Members Business from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., No. 16, (resumed).

Yesterday I asked the Taoiseach when the Book of Estimates would be circulated. I asked that question in the expectation that the Minister for Finance was to address a Press conference on the Book of Estimates later that day. In his reply, the Taoiseach indicated that it would be circulated before the end of the week. That raised a doubt in my mind as to whether the Press conference would take place. I noticed from this morning's newspapers that it did take place and presumably the Minister presented the Press with copies. A copy of this book was, by courtesy, sent to the Chief Whip of my party yesterday. Today 24 hours after the Press conference, not one copy has been distributed to the Members of this House. This is a scandalous denial of the rights of Deputies and I want to repeat the protest which I have made continuously in this House over the last few months.

I understand that copies of the Book of Estimates were sent to the Dáil Office last night.

I heard that only within the last hour. Deputies have not had an opportunity of access to their copies. Frequently publications of this kind are disclosed to the Press. Their contents are published in the media next day. That is right and proper, so long as simultaneously with the publication in the newspapers Deputies have copies of these documents. From my experience I know that it can be highly embarrassing when people ask questions about the contents of such documents. In common language this is just not good enough.

I agree entirely with Deputy Lynch. The practice which is operating is precisely the same practice as when the Deputy was in office.

(Interruptions.)

The only difference is that the Deputy is only now finding out what we experienced while we were in Opposition.

That is not true.

It is true. It is precisely the same. I undertook last night to have a copy sent to the Deputy. The fact that the Dáil Office did not distribute it is not my responsibility. The procedure is precisely the same as it always was.

Copies of the Book of Estimates should have been in our post this morning. I would not have complained that the Press got sight of it before we did if we had got our copies by post this morning. That has always been the practice——

No. I had experience in Opposition when we did not get it. I raised that matter here and the Deputy knows it.

(Interruptions.)
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