andMr. Harte asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his representation by an Army officer at a recent funeral after earlier involvement in the removal of the remains by men in paramilitary dress and the firing of shots at that earlier ceremony.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Representation of Taoiseach at Funeral.
7.
Dr. FitzGerald
On learning of the death of Mr. John Joe Sheehy I had arrangements made to be represented at the obsequies. I was accordingly represented by an Army officer at the Requiem Mass celebrated in St. John's Church, Tralee on Tuesday, 15 January, in accordance with established practice and protocol.
I felt it appropriate to be so represented at the Requiem Mass because the late Mr. Sheehy was a national figure held in high esteem for his long and outstanding contribution to the Gaelic Athletic Association.
In view of the fact that he knew from the national papers before the funeral that shots had been fired and a paramilitary escort had been provided at the removal of the remains, does the Taoiseach not feel that he placed our Army in an invidious position by asking an officer of that Army to represent him at the funeral and by maintaining that request in the absence of any steps to ensure that there would be no repetition of these events at the funeral?
I do not understand the implications of the Deputy's question. I was not aware, nor, I am sure, was the officer concerned aware of any intention to fire shots or to exhibit any unseemly behaviour and——
They had already been fired.
—— in fact the distinguished Army officer who represented me on this occasion was not at the funeral, he simply attended the Requiem Mass in the church.
Does the Taoiseach suggest that he was not aware of the headlines in the morning papers about the shots fired the previous evening? In the light of that the Taoiseach took no steps to ensure that this would not recur, or if he could not ensure that, that the Army would not be placed in the position of indignity in which it was, by maintaining the request for an Army representative.
Asking a senior member of the Defence Forces to represent the Taoiseach at the funeral of a distinguished citizen, no matter what his political views were, could not be regarded as a slight to the Army officer concerned. It was in accordance with practice and protocol in the Taoiseach's office that this sort of representation should take place. The Army officer in question represented me at the Requiem Mass only. It is a human and Christian thing to be represented on an occasion like that at the Mass for the repose of the soul of a distinguished citizen like Mr. John Joe Sheehy.
The Taoiseach states that neither he nor the Army officer involved were aware that an illegal army would be involved in the proceedings leading to the burial. If the Taoiseach had been so aware, would he have still been represented?
Could I ask a supplementary question?
Could I have an answer?
(Interruptions).
I presume that this side of the House is allowed to ask at least one supplementary question.
Order, order. The Deputy has a right to ask a question.
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy is interrupting the Taoiseach's answer.
I am asking to be allowed to ask a supplementary question.
Will the Deputy please ask his question?
Will the Taoiseach give me and this House his personal assurance——
(Interruptions.)
——that no Cabinet Minister and no Minister of State will embarrass or in any way humiliate the Irish Army by using a ceremonial Army occasion to launch a bitter, unprecedented, partial and regretful attack on the President of Ireland?
(Interruptions.)
Order.
Could I ask the Taoiseach a final question?
Order, please.
The Deputy will get a bicycle for that.
The Deputy will drive the Taoiseach to the Park.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please. The Chief Whip should restrain himself.
The Deputy is asking a hypothetical question. In those circumstances it would be left to the good sense and discretion of my representative at the obsequies as to what action he would take.
The Taoiseach would have no responsibility?
I would trust my representative to behave in a proper and dignified fashion.
What instructions were given to the Army officer?
Simply to represent me at the obsequies.
That is not my information.
(Interruptions.)
Is it not true that the officer was told to represent the Taoiseach at the funeral?
Question No. 8.