asked the Taoiseach whether in June, 1949, the then Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare, Mr. D.J. O'Donovan, wrote to him stating that he (Mr. O'Donovan) was being pressed by the counsel and solicitor who were then acting for the Minister for Social Welfare in the civil proceedings for damages which, in his private capacity, that Minister had instituted against the Irish Press, to produce certain confidential documents and furnish other information also of a confidential character to assist the Minister to prosecute the proceedings; whether is was with his knowledge and consent that Mr. O'Donovan was informed by counsel acting for the Minister at a conference which he had with them on June 27th, 1949, that on the following Monday he (Mr. O'Donovan) would receive a direction from the Taoiseach to make the departmental files available and to give the evidence required, and whether any such direction was issued.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Production of Confidential Documents.
I have no recollection of any communication from Mr. O'Donovan such as is suggested in the first part of the Deputy's question, and no trace or record of any such communication can be found in my Department.
As regards the second part of the question, I have no knowledge of what took place at any conference between Mr. O'Donovan and counsel acting for the Minister for Social Welfare in the proceedings referred to.
The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative.
In view of the nature of the Taoiseach's reply, I propose to raise the substance of this question on the Adjournment, with the Ceann Comhairle's permission.