asked the Minister for Justice if he will state why a Deputy of Dáil Éireann is allowed the use of a State car to carry him to and from Dáil Éireann and also to visit his constituency.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Use of State Car.
I am not prepared to give the reasons for the allocation of cars under the control of my Department, but I can assure the Deputy that I am satisfied that each allocation is in the public interest.
Is the Minister aware that a Deputy of this House, Deputy G. Boland, uses a State car for the purpose of visiting his constituency in County Roscommon for political purposes? Is the Minister further aware that this same State car, at the taxpayers' expense, is used as a kind of family taxi for social and domestic reasons by the same Deputy——
And by Deputy McQuillan.
Definitely not. I got a lift from Deputy Boland in 1944, but I did not know at that time that it was a State car.
Will the Minister tell the House if this is not an escort car?
This is a car you travel in to public meetings.
Is that the first he you ever told?
You would not be there only it was a State car.
I do not travel in the car at all, and you know very well that I do not.
Order. If Deputy McQuillan cannot cease disorderly interruptions he will have to leave the House.
I want to ask the Minister for Justice to state whether this is an escort car available to Deputy Boland but which is not actually given to him.
I think it is grossly unfair——
That is not a question. I want a Supplementary Question.
Does the Minister think it is in the public interest or fair to the taxpayers to have this escort car available to Deputy Boland?
May I say that I deprecate the statements made. I am quite satisfied that each car allocated on these duties is allocated in the public interest. I am responsible for that order.
Nobody will touch a hair on his head.
That is not the Deputy's business. It is mine.