asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of a report in a Sunday newspaper (details supplied) that confidential documents dealing with individual case histories for unemployment benefit were found on a Dublin city thoroughfare; and the action, if any, he intends taking in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Confidential Unemployment Documents.
25.
I am aware of the newspaper report referred to by the Deputy. These documents related to periods in the sixties and had been set aside for destruction in accordance with the procedure laid down for the destruction of confidential documents. The circumstances in which the documents were not sent for destruction and in which they came to be found on a Dublin street are still under investigation. Pending completion of inquiries I have nothing to add to the statement already issued by me in the matter through the Government Information Services, except to say that my Department have taken all necessary steps to ensure that there will not be a recurrence of such an incident.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether the documents which were found in the street and the documents discovered in the derelict building have been destroyed?
All documents, as far as I am aware, have been recovered through the offices of the Garda Síochána and the offices of the Department of Social Welfare. I am satisfied that the documents have been dealt with in a way that will ensure they do not come to public notice in the manner they did.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say when the investigation he is now conducting will be completed? Will the Parliamentary Secretary inform the House of the conclusion of this investigation? The Parliamentary Secretary issued a statement, through the Government Information Services, suggesting that many of the documents concerned contained documents of a trivial nature, but will he, on reflection, say whether that statement is true or not?
Yes. Obviously, I regard it as being true if I included it in a statement that I made to the public in general. The investigations going on as to how the documents came to be in a public thoroughfare are complicated by the fact that the documents were found in a building that ceased to be used as a public building or for the purpose of handling any public or State business in 1972. Some of the officers who were then with the appropriate department which at the time catered for the employment exchanges have been transferred while others have retired. It is to ensure that all the necessary information available is given so that an accurate conclusion as to how this matter arose can be arrived at that there has been some delay in finalising the report. I expect the report will be issued to me in the immediate future but as it is an internal report it is not my intention to publish it. Two weeks ago the Deputy stated in the Dáil in relation to this matter that he was not raising it for the purpose of a witch-hunt but in order to ensure that there will not be a recurrence of this nature and that is another reason why it is not my intention to publish the report.
This appears to have been a phantom office. The Parliamentary Secretary has said that in the light of the transfers and retirements of certain individuals in the Department people seem to have forgotten about that item since 1972.
The Deputy is making a statement rather than asking a precise and relevant supplementary question.
I should like to add that I agree with the Parliamentary Secretary that there should not be a witch-hunt in this matter.
I am glad the Deputy agreed with me a fortnight ago and that he agrees with me today.
I ask the permission of the Chair to have replies to Questions Nos. 36 and 37 treated as written.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.