Síle de Valera
Question:5 Miss de Valera asked the Taoiseach whether, as a member of the Government, he has initiated legal proceedings against any individual in the past 12 months. [11243/96]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Legal Proceedings.
The answer is no.
Last month the Taoiseach threatened to sue a journalist from Midlands Radio 3 about a question she asked concerning Bord na Móna. Has the Taoiseach issued proceedings against that journalist? If not, does he intent to do so and has he apologised to Ms Buckley, the journalist in question?
I am concerned about the charge being levelled in such a fashion. It is not appropriate to this House that that should be done, and I will hear no more about it.
A Cheann Comhairle, if I may——
Deputy de Valera, please desist. You are making an allegation against a person outside this House, or concerning a person outside this House.
I wish to clear up this matter. There is no allegation against any person outside this House and I would not like that misunderstanding to go abroad. My question is on the Order Paper and, therefore, must be in order. My question asked whether the Taoiseach, as a member of Government, initiated legal proceedings against any individual in the past 12 months. Will the Taoiseach indicate if he has instigated proceedings against a journalist whom he threatened to sue last May?
The Chair's concern is to the reference to the person outside the House.
My question was allowed on the Order Paper. I ask the Chair's guidance on this matter.
The question was allowed on the Order Paper. There was no reference to personalities.
Will the Taoiseach indicate what he intends to do about this matter?
I answered the question, but the Deputy must not have heard it.
We should not personalise matters in this House. I call Question No. 6.
Has the Taoiseach apologised to the journalist concerned? This is the second time a female journalist has been insulted in this way.
Deputy de Valera, I have called Question No. 6.