: This is the section in which there will be a subsection added to give the Minister absolute privilege if he decides to table any such report?
SECTION 169.
Question proposed : " That Section 169 stand part of the Bill ".
Yes.
" And the same shall be privileged "—that is all you need add.
Might I direct the Minister's attention to the fact that the Committee on Procedure and Privileges is ruling that there is no precedent for the phrase " laid on the Table of the House " in Standing Orders and it is going to be just " laid before the House ".
You will have to do more than Deputy de Valera suggests because it will have to be " . . . and if published, the same shall be privileged." I do not think it would be fair to make it mandatory on the Minister to publish it.
You could make it " . . . cause the report to be printed and published and the same shall be privileged." Why not have it privileged in all events ?
I do not want to have it privileged if an official—the Lord forbid there should be such—should purloin a copy of it and pass it to the newspapers and a certain newspaper we know could publish it. I did not name any newspaper.
I am glad you did not name the party that gives out the reports to the newspaper.
Question put and agreed to.