asked the Taoiseach the name and type of every commercial enterprise in which Ministers have a commercial interest or business association.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ministers' Commercial Interests.
1.
Soon after coming into office the Government decided that no member of the Government should engage in any activities whatsoever that could reasonably be regarded as interfering, or being incompatible, with the full and proper discharge by him of the duties of his office. That decision is still being complied with by each member of the Government.
Am I to take it from that no Minister has any commercial interest or business association with any commercial enterprise?
No, that has never been the practice. The practice has been that any interests Ministers have should in no sense conflict with their duties as Ministers. That has been established for many years by successive Governments and that is the decision taken by this Government after it was formed. It applies to all Ministers and all have complied with it.
Has the Taoiseach made any investigation into this question of whether any of his Ministers have any commercial interest which may conflict with their portfolios?
All Ministers are asked about this periodically when a question is put down, or otherwise. So far as I am aware, all Ministers have complied with the requirements I mentioned and which was laid down previously by different Governments and, as I understand, acted upon in all cases.
The Taoiseach has not answered my question, which was: has he, himself, made any investigation or inquiries to establish that this is a fact?
Other than asking the Ministers, no.