Michael Noonan
Question:2 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach the names of the persons employed in his Department who are authorised to speak to the media on his behalf; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24821/01]
Ceisteanna – Questions. - Departmental Staff.
Those authorised in my office to speak to the media on my behalf are the Government press secretary, the deputy Government press secretary and the press officers employed in the Government Press Office. From time to time some political and background briefing is done by my special advisers at my request. Inevitably, in the absence of the Government Press Secretary, the same people may be drafted in as the occasion demands to brief the media on my behalf.
On 4 October last I sent the Taoiseach a very important letter raising questions about the 25th amendment to the Constitution. Somebody on behalf of the Taoiseach briefed the media saying it had not received the letter, even though it was delivered to his office. There was a report to the effect the letter had not been sent or received, and a spokesperson for the Taoiseach was quoted as saying this to The Irish Times on 5 October last, even though the letter had been delivered to Government Buildings on 4 October. Who briefed the media on behalf of the Taoiseach? Will the Taoiseach now confirm that what was said was untrue?
Deputy Noonan raised that question the following day—
The Taoiseach did not answer it.
—and I said I accepted what he said.
The Taoiseach said "If I said it" he accepted it.
I said I accepted what the Deputy said.
More ambiguity.
There is no ambiguity. I said I accepted what the Deputy said.
Order, please.
Did the Taoiseach check in his office to find out who briefed the press in a manner which was untrue? Will he now tell us who that person is and will he confirm that the letter his spokesperson said was not delivered was in Government Buildings the evening before? It is a fair question. Your spokesperson tried to portray my party as putting out a statement which was untrue, saying a letter we sent to you had not been sent. That was the charge made, and I want you to confirm to the House that the fault was on your side, that your spokesperson either intentionally or unintentionally briefed the press incorrectly. I want you to name the person who did it and accept it was untrue. I do not want you saying in an ambiguous way that "If you said so, I believe you". That is not the point. You were in a position to establish objectively—
I ask the Deputy to address the Chair.
The Taoiseach was in a position to establish what I am saying objectively from his own advisers.
That has nothing to do with the question.
The Minister for the Environment and Local Government should take it easy. People in glass houses.
What glass houses?
This is a serious issue. An attempt was made to portray myself and my party as putting out statements which were untrue. The Taoiseach has it totally within his—
Please, Deputy.
I put it to the Taoiseach that he is totally in a position to confirm the accuracy of what I am affirming here. I am asking him to do so, to say the mistake was made in his office, to name the person who did the briefing and to say the briefing was untrue or, if he does not like the term "untrue", incorrect.
In so far as I recall the event, the letter was sent over to my office by the Leader of Fine Gael and, as happens often enough, it did not get to my private office. I am sure that was through no fault of anybody – it just did not get there quickly enough – and it was stated that the letter had not been received. When Deputy Noonan raised the matter, I did not proceed to check what usher, attendant or civil servant—
I am not saying—
Yes, the Deputy is—
(Interruptions.)
Order, please. Members should not interrupt when another Member is on his feet.
Deputy Noonan was making the point, as I recall it, that the letter had gone over and that somebody in the Government press office was saying it had not. If it is that important to the Deputy, I will go back and check it again. I just accepted what he said. I do not go around my Department checking on letters which may not have reached their destination. However, if it is that important, I will check it. I said, on the day, that I accepted the Deputy's position when he said, as Leader of the Opposition, that he had sent the letter over. If he wishes me to conduct an investigation and to check which of the two ushers at the tunnel or which staff member in the corridors might have delayed the process of delivery, I will do so. That is what the Deputy is asking and he should consider what he is asking.
I have not asked the Taoiseach to comment in any way whatsoever on why a letter delivered one evening did not reach his office until the following morning. It is a matter for the Taoiseach as to how he manages his office and what internal procedures apply. What I am asking the Taoiseach is a much more serious question – who briefed The Irish Times, categorically, that the letter had not been sent from the Leader of the Opposition when it had? Is it the custom and practice in his office to brief on that basis, without checking whether a letter had arrived?
This is becoming ridiculous.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
It is the custom and practice of my people to say they did not get a letter if they have not got that letter. If a letter was on its way and had not arrived at its destination, the people giving the briefing would have assumed it had not been sent. When it was discovered that it had been sent, I accepted that. If the Deputy requires further investigation, I will do so. There was nothing more involved and I believe the Deputy knows that.