asked the Minister for Justice to state the facts upon which he has based his reasons for refusing to carry out the undertaking given in writing to appoint one person from a list supplied by the Fianna Fáil Party for the purpose of acting on the Visiting Committee to the prisoners in Mountjoy Jail, and whether, in view of certain recent events and of complaints arising therefrom in reference to the treatment of several prisoners in that prison, he proposes to continue to override that written undertaking.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mountjoy Prison Visiting Committee.
On the 24th November, 1927, I received a deputation from the Fianna Fáil Party to discuss the cases of certain prisoners, and in the course of the discussion the constitution of the Visiting Committee to Mountjoy Prison incidentally arose, whereupon I informed the deputation that I would favourably consider appointing on the Visiting Committee to Mountjoy Prison a person to be selected from a list of responsible citizens submitted by the Fianna Fáil Party. Some considerable time later the Deputy, who was one of the deputation referred to, submitted the name of a doctor, whereupon I informed him that, as members of his Party had previously made attacks in the Dáil upon the medical officers attached to Mountjoy Prison, the appointment of a doctor would give the impression that I had not full confidence in the medical officers, and for that reason I could not consider the suggestion. At that time I received no further suggestions.
On the 10th December, 1928, Deputy Little approached me again on the subject, and on that occasion I informed him that if a list of three or more sensible businessmen were put forward I would appoint one of them on the Visiting Committee to Mountjoy Prison, if the list contained the name of a suitable person. I received no list until 24th November, 1929, and on that date the Deputy submitted the name of the doctor whom I had previously rejected, his own name, and the name of another person. In 1927, when I received the deputation above mentioned, I entertained the hope that the Fianna Fáil Party were genuinely interested in the preservation of order in the State. In December, 1928, whilst I had some doubts as to whether my hopes were well-founded, I was prepared to take some risks in the matter, but in November, 1929, when the Deputy's list was submitted, I came to the conclusion that any claim the Fianna Fáil Party might have had to have their views considered in making appointments of the nature in question had long since been forfeited. I wrote to the Deputy on the 6th December, 1929, setting forth my views on the matter. I observed that he published this letter in the issue of the weekly paper called the "Nation" dated 28th December last. He also published a letter of his own of a party propagandist nature. In view of all the propaganda the Deputy created for himself in the "Nation" of the 28th December last, I am at a loss to know what further purpose he thinks can be served by the present question.
As regards the last part of the Deputy's question, I have nothing to say.
My question was for the facts upon which the Minister has based his statement that the Fianna Fáil Party had ceased to be a Party with whom he could carry out that agreement. I repeat that. I want to know what are the facts upon which he based the statement.
In the first place, I pointed out to the Deputy that he never sent forward the list of the three sensible businessmen, because I do not consider the Deputy himself as a sensible businessman——
Is it because he is a solicitor?
I do not call solicitors businessmen; I call them professional men. Likewise, I have to inform the Deputy that the whole course which his Party has taken in this Dáil, during the last year, and the attacks they have frequently made upon the Gárda and the prison officials—no later than last night for instance—is full justification of the course I have taken.
The Minister had three names from which to choose. He could have said, if he liked, that these names were not acceptable and asked for another list. He did not do that, but he made charges against our Party and I am concerned to know the facts upon which he based those charges?
The facts are the attitude which the Party opposite has taken up in this House.
Are there any persons upon these Committees other than sensible businessmen?
The persons appointed are people, I think, suitable for the position.
Are these Committees to remain in the future as they have been in the past, organs for the Cumann na nGaedheal Party?
They are not organs of the Cumann na nGaedheal Party.
What qualifications has Deputy Doyle of the Cumann na nGaedheal Party for this position which is not possessed by Deputy Little?
Sound commonsense.
I ask leave to raise this question on the motion for the adjournment to-morrow afternoon.