Question No. 37.

This is a serious matter, a very important matter, a matter——

It is, and I am calling the next question.

It is a matter of a breach of privilege. It is a matter which concerns every Deputy in this House. I personally want to make a charge against whoever was responsible——

This is totally contrary to the purpose and spirit of Question Time.

——for information regarding a successful application for school transport being relayed to an individual in the Tuam area although that individual never contacted the Fianna Fáil Minister of State who relayed the information to him. Where else could he have got it but from the Department?

I have asked the Deputy to give me particulars of the case, and I will——

I am sure that the Deputy, having made the charges——

If I could make it in confidence I would make it, but there is no confidence involved.

If the Deputy will be so courteous as to give me the particulars I can assure him in this House that I will have them examined. He can then put down a question later on and I will give him all the details.

If I give the Minister the information regarding the charge I have made, can I have an assurance from him that he will not go and communicate with other people, as has been done in the past?

If the Deputy will give me the information, I assure him I will give him an honest reply. If the Deputy will consult other members of his party he will find that they accept that in respect of the area for which I am responsible the charge he has made has not got any base at all.

The charge is in respect of school transport.

If the Deputy gives me the details, the House can decide who is correct.

Accepting what the Minister has said, that the practice has been long standing, that it existed before he came into the House, does he not think that the continuation of such a practice is an invasion of the privacy of a Deputy in relation to making representations to a Department—that he is entitled to that information and that that information should not be given to other Deputies in the constituency just because an Opposition Deputy asked for it in the first instance?

I agree that should not occur and I assure the Deputy it does not take place.

Deputy Tunney is one of the fairest Deputies in the House, but it happens that when Deputies contact a Department——

We must get on.

I will convey the Deputy's feelings on the matter to the Minister.

It is to a faction within a certain party that the information is being given.

The remaining questions will appear on the Order Paper for the next day on which Question Time is being taken.