It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1, 8 (resumed), 9, 10 and 11. Private Members' Business will be taken from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m., No. 77 by agreement.
Order of Business.
Does the Taoiseach propose in the immediate future to make a statement on the profoundly serious allegations made recently by senior representatives of the Garda Síochána that there has been interference up to ministerial level in the course of justice as pursued by the gardaí?
That is not in order on the Order of Business.
Silence.
Could the Minister indicate when the Estimate for the Department of the Environment will be taken?
I am informed that there are conversations going on between the Whips as to the order of choice in the list of Estimates. We are still awaiting their list.
I wish to raise on the adjournment the matter about which I have just spoken. Failing the permission of the Ceann Comhairle to raise the matter, I give notice that I intend to ask this question again in the House.
I will ask the Ceann Comhairle to communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to lodge my protest against your failure to protect me in this House. I would remind you that a similar campaign of innuendo was attempted some years ago by Deputy Noel Davern. It was only on the third occasion that I was able to flush it out to the point that I was able to prove the allegation was false. The Chair should have protected me in this matter.
If Deputy FitzGerald believes he has been unprotected by the Chair, I would point out that the matter was disposed of and finalised and the letter was not read. If Deputy FitzGerald wants the letter read at this stage, the Minister of State may read it if he so wishes. That finally disposes of this matter and there will be no further questions on it. Does Deputy FitzGerald request that the letter be read?
I certainly do and I wish to make a statement when the letter has been read.
It is up to the Minister of State. The Deputy should not make allegations against the Chair.
I have no objection to reading the letter to which I referred, but I can assure the Deputy that a member of his party will be very sorry.
(Interruptions.)
Everybody in this House was led to believe that the Minister had a letter from me. He deserves to be thrown out. Every effort was made to convince the Press that I had written a letter.
Let us have some peace in the House.
I want to speak here. Deputy FitzGerald raised these questions because of continuing innuendos against me. I will defend my integrity in this House or anywhere else. At no stage did I say that the particular letter that was being pushed to be read was from Deputy FitzGerald.
The Minister will not get out of that one.
I am not being given the courtesy of being allowed to finish. I did say that there was also a letter on the file from Deputy FitzGerald, from the great white leader who would not write these letters, making representations.
(Interruption.)
Read it.
Let the Minister read the letter.
There have been innuendos against me and my honour must be protected.
In view of the allegation of innuendo, I gave the opportunity of reading the letter and said the matter would finish there.
Mr. G. FitzGerald
This is a letter from Deputy O'Toole.
The Minister should start with the letter from me.
Mr. G. FitzGerald
I will read both of them.
The Minister should not try to slide out.
On a point of order, am I right in saying that the Chair ruled that a letter from me should be read to the House?
Deputy Calleary should be ashamed of himself.
I have no reason to be ashamed of myself and the Deputy should withdraw that remark.
Deputy FitzGerald alleged that there were innuendos and, to a certain extent, that the Chair was preventing him from having those innuendos cleared in the House. On those conditions I decided that the matter would be reopened for reading the letter.
From me?
We will proceed to the next business immediately if we have quiet in the House.
They are more crooked than I expected.
Mr. G. FitzGerald
The letter is addressed to me and says:
I wish to make representations on behalf of — who is employed in the employment section of —. She is anxious to be transferred to any Government Office in Galway.
(Interruptions.)
Good grief.
Number 1.
(Interruptions.)
Mr. G. FitzGerald
Deputies did not allow me to finish it.
The Finance Bill, 1980, First Stage.
The mountain was in labour and produced a mouse. What a mouse.
If Deputy L'Estrange does not stay quiet we cannot proceed with the business.
(Interruptions.)
Is leave to introduce agreed?
Is that all they could be accused of.
(Interruptions.)
Does Deputy L'Estrange want to leave the House?