asked the Minister for Justice if any investigation was ever carried out into allegations that the Leader of the Opposition was furnished with information on Garda notepaper alleging conspiracy by Government Ministers to import arms illegally during the early months of 1970; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Conspiracy Allegations.
79.
Before the Minister replies, may I observe that the Minister for Justice is not present to answer the question which I regard as extremely important and that supplementary questions arising out of the reply will be answered by the Minister for Lands on behalf of the Minister for Justice?
, Cavan) (for the Minister for Justice): I have been informed by the Commissioner, Garda Síochána, that the Garda received no complaint about the misuse, as suggested in the question of Garda notepaper and that they are not aware of any evidence that such misuse occurred.
That could be the joke of the year. Since it was held up in this House and since it was visible, at least to the Press Gallery, amongst others, that it was on Garda notepaper and that it was asserted by the then Leader of the Opposition that it was on Garda notepaper, how can any Minister stand over a Commissioner who would say that the Garda were not aware that any such thing had taken place and because no complaint was made about it they did not take any action? Is the Minister not aware that on at least two occasions in the past two years I asked the previous administration whether they had investigated this matter or intended to investigate it and, if so, with what results and nothing was done about it? Apparently not only is nothing being done about it now or has been done about it but the Minister would seem to infer that, in fact, the Garda did not know about it and, therefore, there was nothing to investigate.
(Cavan): I have nothing to add to the reply beyond saying that, as the Deputy is aware, the allegations which he says were contained in the alleged communication were, indeed, investigated over a protracted period before many tribunals and in different places and it is not proposed to have any further investigation into the matter at this time and I repeat that the information given to the Minister by the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána states that no complaint was received by him on the matter raised by the Deputy.
I fully appreciate the Minister's situation in the matter and the innocence of the present Commissioner who did not have any complaint about the matter. In view of the absence of any wish on the part of the Garda authorities to investigate the specific complaints being made, may I ask the Minister whether the informations came from the British Government and were supplied to the British Government from the Special Branch leak which was detected later and in respect of which there is a further question on the Order Paper?
(Cavan): I have nothing further to add and I am satisfied that the country, and indeed the world, have heard enough about the whole business.
They have not heard the truth.