Before we enter on public business, Deputy Aiken desires to make a personal explanation.
DEPUTY'S RETRACTION.
On the 30th March, the final day of the last session. I made certain personal charges against the Minister for Industry and Commerce which, upon investigation, I found to be untrue. I regret having made them and as the Dáil was not to meet for three weeks, I withdrew them by letter to the Press on the day following. I now wish to withdraw them formally here where they were made. I desire also to say that I recognise that, ordinarily, a member's word should be accepted regarding his own conduct, and that I should have taken that course on that occasion in deference to the ordinary parliamentary forms. I did not do so because the Minister was persisting in an unjust imputation against the Fianna Fáil Party.
I am very glad to have that expression from the Deputy which, of course, I accept as ending the situation with regard to myself and himself in relation to any charges he made. There is, however, another side to this. There was a letter I received from a gentleman who, though not definitely named, was pretty clearly indicated. I had intended to publish it, but refrained in the hope that the situation might be redeemed in the way in which it has been to-day. I would like to clear up the situation with regard to that individual who believes he is aimed at. I would like to have an opportunity of reading this letter sent to me in order that it may appear on the Records of the House. I do not intend to comment on it in any way.
The letter is addressed from St. Brendan's, Cross Avenue, Booterstown, and is dated the 5th April.
"Dear McGilligan,
"In the debate in the Dáil on last Friday, the official report of which I have just seen, it was stated that shortly after the murder of Mr. O'Higgins at Booterstown you were asked to stop your car at the scene of the shooting and to go for a priest, also that instead of doing so you drove away.
"As you are aware, it was I who signalled to you to pull up your car, which you did. Obviously, therefore, these statements are assumed to have been made by me. Neither then nor at any other time have I made any statement implying that you did not stop your car in response to my signal, or that you did not return with me to where Mr. O'Higgins lay dying, or that I asked you to go for a priest and that you refused.
"You have my permission to make any use of this letter you may deem advisable.—Yours sincerely,
"HUGH RYAN."