Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has lodged an official complaint with the Ceann Comhairle’s office following a refusal by Minister Pat Breen’s office to answer, in the specified timeframe, a parliamentary question she had asked regarding his engagements with Mr David McCourt and bidders in the National Broadband Plan process.
“It is exceptionally unusual for a PQ not to be replied to within the specified time frame and for me to then see that the same Minister has spoken with a journalist on the topic whilst neglecting his duties under the parliamentary questions process is hugely frustrating.”
Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has lodged an official complaint with the Ceann Comhairle’s office following a refusal by Minister Pat Breen’s office to answer, in the specified timeframe, a parliamentary question she had asked regarding his engagements with Mr David McCourt and bidders in the National Broadband Plan process.
Dáil rules are very specific regarding the timings allowed to Departments to answer questions and the reply should have been with Catherine Murphy on Thursday evening the 18th of October but instead she has been told that the questions were left in an inbox and not answered.
Catherine Murphy said this is simply not acceptable and is a highly unusual occurrence. She also noted that the Minister in question had found the time to speak to a journalist and answer similar questions to the ones she had asked.
Catherine Murphy TD said:
“The parliamentary questions process is a vitally important one and that it might be circumvented in any way is a cause of grave concern. It is exceptionally unusual for a PQ not to be replied to within the specified time frame and for me to then see that the same Minister has spoken with a journalist on the topic whilst neglecting his duties under the parliamentary questions process is hugely frustrating.
“I have lodged a formal complaint with the Ceann Comhairle regarding Minister Breen and his Department’s actions in this regard and I await a reply. It is vital that the PQ process is respected by all Ministers and Departments no matter how unsavoury the answer they have to give might be for them personally.”
22nd October 2018
[ENDS]