Vol. 172 No. 2
Last night in the course of the debate on item No. 12 on the Order Paper the following exchange took place:—
"Mr. Norton: ...and never drew one farthing from the union during that period.
Mr. Casey: I wonder can the Minister for Health say the same thing as far as he is concerned, in connection with the companies he was connected with.
Mr. MacEntee: Yes."
On a point of order, I understand the Minister to be reading a document in which he quotes my name. Could I be informed as to what this procedure is about? It was not referred to in the Order of Business.
It is a matter of personal explanation. The Minister gave me notice that he wanted to make a personal explanation.
On a point of order. Sir, you must yourself recall and, I think, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach will confirm it, that at the last meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges it was unanimously agreed that in the case of any Deputy, and that covers a Minister, raising a matter which affects another Deputy, the Committee on Procedure and Privileges were clear that the other Deputy concerned should be notified before it was raised.
This does not affect any other Deputy.
This is purely a matter personal to the Minister.
Deputy Norton has been mentioned.
On a point of order, I have been mentioned and I have got no notice at all regarding this.
It is the practice, and has been the practice, to give notice to nobody except the person making the personal explanation. He notifies the Chair that he wants to make a personal explanation on a matter personal to him. This is a matter purely personal to the Minister.
Other Deputies are concerned.
No. It was asked: "Can the Minister for Health say the same thing as far as he is concerned, in connection with the companies he was connected with?" I answered, "yes". I now wish to make the personal explanation. In order that there may be no misunderstanding in this matter, I wish to make it clear to the Dáil that my affirmative in this case did not relate to any moneys I may have received by way of dividend in respect of any shares which I hold or have held in any company. That does not affect anybody but myself and the accuracy of the Report.
