The Minister for Industry and Commerce, Deputy Keating, has given notice that he wishes to make a personal explanation.
Personal Explanation by Minister.
I refer to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 30 and 31 from Deputy Daly which I answered yesterday and to the ensuing Adjournment Debate on those questions last night. In the course of that Adjournment Debate it was clear to me that the version of the facts given by Deputy Daly could not be reconciled with the version I gave the House in good faith from the briefs before me. This morning I set out to discover which was the correct version. I find that inadvertently and in good faith but, nonetheless, in fact, I misled the House last night and I wrongly accused Deputy Daly of misleading the House. This is the first occasion since I discovered the real situation that I have had an opportunity of clarifying the position. I wish to offer to Deputy Daly and to the House and to the Chair my apologies first, for inadvertently misleading the House and, secondly, for accusing Deputy Daly of having done so.
Deputy Daly rose.
I am bound to say, while I can make an exception in Deputy Daly's case, that on the occasion of the issuing of statements of this kind no question or debate may arise. I am making an exception in the case of Deputy Daly.
I thank the Minister for the apology and I want to assure the House that it was not my intention to mislead the House. I accept entirely the explanation given by the Minister but serious allegations as to my integrity were made by the Minister and I am glad he has now withdrawn them.