asked the Taoiseach if he is prepared to set up a committee to inquire into the accuracy or otherwise of statements made in the Dáil on the 17th instant in the course of supplementary questions relating to the recent appointment of sub-postmaster in Ballyfermot Upper post office.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballyfermot Upper Post Office.
The answer is "No".
In view of the fact that the sub-postmaster in question is a cousin of the wife of the acting-Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, does the Minister still deny that he is connected by marriage with the sub-postmaster?
I am not allowing that question.
Does that mean that I am not allowed—
The Deputy may resume his seat. The supplementary question does not relevantly arise from the question on the Order Paper.
May I ask, Sir——
Question No. 2.
Might I ask the Taoiseach if he condones misstatements made by the Minister?
Deputies
Chair, Chair!
Question No. 2.
Is the Taoiseach afraid of what the commission would find?
Question No. 2.
May I make a statement?
Is the Taoiseach standing over the dishonest statements of his Ministers?
The whole aim of the Deputy and his colleague is to suggest——
——to get the truth out of you.
——that the appointment was wrongly or improperly made.
You will not get away with this—standing over jobbery.
(Interruptions.)
You are standing over nepotism and jobbery.
(Interruptions.)
The appointment was regularly made. The post was duly advertised. There was one applicant. That applicant was interviewed in the usual way and recommended departmentally. The appointment was made with due regard to the public interest.
The man who was appointed is a connection of the Minister's, and the Taoiseach is standing over that.
I stand over it. The appointment was made quite regularly.
If there is nothing to conceal then set up the commission.
Question No. 2.
Is it a fact that the Taoiseach is standing over jobbery?
It is not jobbery; that is a falsehood.
It is jobbery. It is worse than jobbery because the Minister told lies.
It is not so.
(Interruptions.)
It will be my duty to name Deputies McQuillan and Dr. Browne for disobeying the orders of the Chair.
Surely the Minister should tell the truth about the situation, that he is related by marriage to the sub-postmaster. That is what we want to get clarified. Is it not a fact that his wife's cousin——
(Interruptions.)
On a point of order. What are the orders of the Chair that are being disobeyed?
I asked Deputy McQuillan and Deputy Dr. Browne to resume their seats and several times they have disobeyed the orders of the Chair.
I never heard the Ceann Comhairle call on Deputy Dr. Browne to resume his seat.
I directed both to sit down.
I did not hear that. With great respect, no one is more concerned than I am to assist the authority of the Chair but I have to assure the Chair that while I heard him call on Deputy McQuillan to resume his seat I heard no such injunction to Deputy Dr. Browne although I am sitting as near the Chair as it is possible to be.
Nor did I.
I feel, Sir, that perhaps, in the disorder that existed, your voice might not have been heard but certainly I did not hear you call on Deputy Dr. Browne.
I addressed both Deputies.
I certainly did not hear that.
I am prepared to leave the House again in protest on this matter and I will take it up elsewhere. I will produce the evidence in any place it is needed. I will produce the birth certificate and the evidence of marriage to prove this Minister is telling lies——
Produce your own birth certificate——
——and that the Taoiseach is standing over it. This is the worst piece of jobbery since Dr. Ward and the bacon.
Deputy McQuillan withdrew from the House.
I thought it was perfectly in order to ask supplementary questions but this sort of thing is completely undermining parliamentary democracy and I, too, withdraw in protest. The Taoiseach should be ashamed of himself.
Deputy Dr. Browne withdrew from the House.
They want to be free to work for the by-election.
Question No. 2.