asked the Minister for Justice if the consultations or discussions which he stated he would have with the Garda Representative Body, subsequent to the recent conference in Limerick, on issues arising out of that conference, have taken place; and, if so, if the remarks made in respect of some of these issues, in particular those relating to political interference with the course of justice have been clarified.

May I say, for the record that the association in question is the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, not the Garda Representative Association.

I recently had a meeting with representatives of the association in the course of which we discussed in some detail all items on an agenda which had been suggested by the association and which therefore must be presumed to represent the matters to which the association wished to accord priority at present. The agenda did not include any item concerning the charges referred to in the Question, and the association's representatives did not mention them except by a passing reference to the fact that they had already publicly stated that the charges were not directed at me personally.

A public statement was afterwards issued jointly by the association and myself to the effect that the meeting had been helpful and that it had been agreed that a further meeting would take place next month.

Does the Minister accept that on the last occasion this question was asked some five or six weeks ago the answer was held in abeyance until such time as the Minister had discussions with the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors in view of the seriousness of the allegations which clearly implied political interference with the course of Justice? Did the Minister raise this issue, as he indicated to this House that he would, on the occasion of that meeting and, if not, why not?

There were many charges made, many rumours published, many made during the period of time that the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors held their annual conference in Limerick last April. At that time I saw these allegations and when I went to meet the association at their annual dinner——

Question Time is over. The Minister should finish his answer.

I suppose I should say to Deputy L'Estrange and the others that at least if I have any differences with the association I am still prepared, unlike those who were here before me, to meet them. If I wanted to say to the association only what they wanted to hear, there would have been no point in my going. I took issue with them on a number of items that I felt I should take issue with them on and I made a number of suggestions to them. I told them if they had anything to say, any allegations to make — and they spoke about promotion, discipline, transfers, county councillors, politicians of all parties interfering with them — they were welcome to come and talk to me. I issued an invitation to them there on that night and later on that night before I left Limerick I was interviewed by RTE for a radio programme and again I repeated my invitation to them.

The Minister should be allowed to conclude without interruption. Question Time is over.

The full national executive of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors came to me and before they came I asked them to submit a list of the items they wished to discuss. We met for three hours or more only a fortnight or so ago and we had a very successful meeting, as the joint communique issued afterwards clearly indicated. There will be another meeting and if the association have anything to say to me on anything whatsoever I will gladly give them the opportunity of talking to me.

Arising out of that——

Question Time is over. The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.