asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of State bodies under the aegis of his Department (a) the procedure adopted in the appointment or reappointment of members to the boards of such bodies and (b) the procedure adopted in relation to the filling of vacancies on such boards.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - State Body Appointments.
1.
As the Deputy who put down the question is not here, may I ask the Chair who is asking it on his behalf?
On many occasions Deputies have asked questions on behalf of their colleagues.
I was speaking about Standing Orders.
I am aware of Standing Orders.
Is the question going to be answered?
I thought the Deputy was engaged on a point of order.
I am, Sir, I am anxious to know who is going to ask the question.
I wish to ask the question.
I see the Taoiseach has looked over his shoulder.
I did not. However, the Deputy should do that a few times himself instead of rushing into rash statements and charges as he does.
Order.
The only such body under the aegis of my Department is An Chomhairle Ealaíon. The procedures for the appointment and re-appointment of the director and of members of An Chomhairle Ealaíon and for the filling of vacancies in those offices are set out in the Arts Act, 1951.
Arising out of this loaded question, will the Taoiseach now not admit that not alone must a person be a member of Fianna Fáil and a member of Taca, but that it is necessary to segregate the different people? The person must not be a dissident or, as some people say, a republican in the old tradition. Is it not true that men of experience, for example, Gerry Jones, was knocked off a particular board recently despite the fact that he was placed on that board by the Taoiseach——
The Deputy may not make a speech. This is not in order.
Deputy Blaney has arrived.
We are entitled to know why there has been a change in policy and why these people who were put on boards by Fianna Fáil a few years ago are now being knocked off the State boards.
Question No. 1 relates to An Chomhairle Ealaíon. However, in the meantime I shall take the opportunity of denying categorically what the Deputy has said.
I am calling Question No. 2.
Is it not true that supporters of Deputies Haughey, Boland and Blaney are being removed from boards by Ministers?
The Deputy is not in order. Would the Deputy please sit down? I have called Question No. 2.
I have a supplementary with regard to Question No. 1. Is is not true that membership of State boards depends mainly on the applicant's political qualifications?
No.
I think the Taoiseach's statement is scarcely truthful.
There are scores of appointees to State boards who have nothing whatever to do with Fianna Fáil and, on the contrary, they oppose Fianna Fáil in politics.
Who are they?
I am in some mystification as to what the Taoiseach categorically denied. Deputy L'Estrange put a supplementary question and the Taoiseach stated he categorically denied it.
It is not necessary normally to deny what Deputy L'Estrange alleges——
I have said a lot of truthful things in the past few years——
I am calling Question No. 2.