asked the Minister for Justice if he can state whether his attention has been drawn to a report of the proceedings of a political meeting as published in the "Saturday Record" of the 2nd instant, where, amongst others, the names of a Superintendent of the Gárda Síochána, an under-sheriff and two district court registrars are included amongst those present; whether steps have been taken to verify the accuracy of the report, and if he can state the result in each case, and whether there is any regulation in the filling of such offices precluding the holders from active participation in politics.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND POLITICAL MEETINGS.
I understand that in the "Saturday Record" of the 2nd instant an account was given of a political meeting held in the Courthouse, Ennis, on Wednesday, the 30th ultimo, in which it was stated that amongst others present were a Superintendent of the Gárda Síochána, the under-sheriff and two District Court clerks. According to my information, however the account is misleading. I am informed that in two local papers on the 19th March an advertisement appeared announcing a public meeting to be held in the Courthouse, Ennis, on the 30th March, for the purpose of forming a branch of a certain political organisation, at which meeting the public generally were invited to attend. The Superintendent of police attended in the course of his duty to ensure good order and to preserve the peace. As regards the under-sheriff and the two district court clerks, I have no reason to suppose that they participated in the proceedings. As the under-sheriff's office is alongside the room where the meeting was held, and as the district court had been held in another part of the Courthouse on the same day, it is possible that the under-sheriff and district court clerks were seen in the vicinity of the meeting, or as the meeting was public, they may have been actually at the meeting as spectators for a while, but as I have already said, I have no reason to suppose that they were active participants. Officials in the public services are expected to refrain from active participation in party politics.
Is there any reason why an under-sheriff and a district court registrar should not attend polical meetings?
There is not, I think, if they attend as interested spectators.
Could the Minister arrange for a similar attendance at Deputy Connor Hogan's meetings?
I do not think they can be too severe on public officials.