asked the Taoiseach whether Deputy Ó Móráin was or was not invited or requested to tender his resignation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Minister's Resignation.
12.
As I indicated to the Dáil in my statement of Saturday the 9th May, I suggested to Deputy Ó Móráin that he should, in view of the state of his health, resign from membership of the Government: his resignation was later accepted by the President.
In that case, would the Taoiseach say why no reference to Deputy Ó Móráin's health was included in the original statement informing the Dáil that the Taoiseach was accepting his resignation?
As far as I remember there was a reference to the Minister resigning on health grounds.
If the Taoiseach will check the records he will find that is not so.
I am reasonably certain that the statement did contain a reference to the Minister's health.
Since the Taoiseach informed the House that Deputy Ó Móráin suffered a severe shock because of the death of Garda Fallon, would he say why, 48 hours later, he decided to give him a further massive shock by discussing with him his political future, to use the Taoiseach's own words? Further, may I ask what particular connotations in regard to his future arose during that discussion?
I knew that Deputy Ó Móráin's health was not conductive to ensuring his ability to give his full attention to the duties devolving on a Minister for Justice and would not likely be so for some months to come.
So Deputy Boland was right, he was sacked.
Deputy Boland was right.
If the Deputy would refer to column 1338 of this very thick volume of Dáil debates he will find that I said that on last Saturday.
Will the Taoiseach accept that there is no reference to health in the record?
Is there not?
No.
I assumed there was but——
It is in the earlier one.
It was in the Press release.
If it is not in the record then it was in the communiqué. I knew it was somewhere.
At column 745 of the Dáil debates Deputy Boland——
We cannot have quotations at Question Time.
Deputy Boland said that Deputies Blaney, Ó Móráin and Haughey had been dealt with. Would the Taoiseach inform us how he reconciles the formulation that Deputy Ó Móráin was dealt with——
These words are not mine.
That is obvious.
I have told the House the circumstances and I will enlarge on the circumstances when replying tonight.
(Interruptions.)