THERE was a mixture of conciliatory and strongly worded exchanges when the controversy surrounding the appointment of five advisers to the private office of the Minister for Social Welfare surfaced again. Mr De Rossa has denied misleading the Dail when he," said the appointments had not been advertised. But Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats insist that a notice in the Democratic Left publication, Forum, constituted an advertisement.
Speaking in Irish, Mr De Rossa said he never intended to mislead the House and he was sorry if anybody thought that was his intention. He had also withdrawn a letter of complaint he had seat to the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Sean Treacy, about being called a "liar" by the Fianna Fail spokesman on social welfare, Mr Joe Walsh. He understood Mr Walsh had made the charge during a heated debate. "I will make every effort to be more humble in future," he added.
The Fianna Fail spokeswoman on health, Ms Moire Geoghegan Quinn, who also spoke in Irish, said nobody in the House had more love for the Irish language than she did, but she believed Mr De Rossa had misused it because he knew that not everybody had understood him.
She said it was unbelievable a minister or any member of the Dail would give wrong information to the House when they knew they were hiding the truth, and then write to the Ceann Comhairle apologising for it. When she and her party colleague, Mr Brian Cowen, had given wrong information to the House, they had come into the chamber to apologise after giving notice.
She said the Ceann Comhairle should ensure that notice of Mr De Rossa's apology be given so everybody could be present in the House to hear it.
Also speaking in Irish, Mr Michael McDowell (PD, Dublin South East) said he was not as fluent as the Minister, but he understood every word he had said. He said it was a shame to misuse the national language to hide behind the truth for the second time.
Mr Treacy said the matter was before the House by way of substantive motion and was also with the Committee of Procedure and Privileges. He urged deputies to await its deliberations.
