Labour leader hits out at McDowell's 'censorship'

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell sees himself as a Minister of Information who must censor all press releases issued by TDs, the Dáil heard today.

Mr McDowell last night sent a letter to Oireachtas members advising them that he was available for background briefings and how statistics should be interpreted.

It reignited a row between the minister and Opposition TDs after he compared Fine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels in a row over garda statistics.

Labour Leader Pat Rabbitte queried in the Dáil today if Mr McDowell now wanted to vet all future press statements from Opposition TDs.

“Where we can’t rely on parliamentary questions, will the minister help us with the true answer and draft the statements for us.”

He asked if the minister will deal with questions about the Health Service Executive which he said was proving difficult for TDs.

“None of us can get an answer now on the health service, on anything no matter how urgent.

“Will the Tánaiste consider contracting that to the Minister for Justice as well and we can go directly to [Mr McDowell’s offices] St Stephen’s Green, push a button and get the information.”

Mr Rabbitte also queried if the Central Statistics Office will have to report to the Minister for Justice on the Census figures.

“Can we rely on any statistics that don’t have the endorsement of the Minister for Justice?” he added.

“This is a novel breakthrough in governance. It will save a lot of money for Opposition politicians that we can get our press statements done by the Minister for Justice. He’ll correct the information and put it out.”

Mr Rabbitte said that the ’extraordinary letter’ to 166 TDs had merely proved that there are more gardaí in Dublin than when the Government came to power in 1997.

But he added: “The problem there is a half a million extra population since then and a couple of hundred thousand extra crimes.“.

In the ’Dear colleague’ letter sent to 166 TDs last night, Mr McDowell accused Mr Bruton of using misleading statistics when he claimed that only two extra gardai were assigned to Dublin in 2005.

Then he added: “For those who are making statements based on statistical information, and indeed those receiving statements, my department’s door remains open to provide background briefing on the context in which that information should be viewed.”

Tánaiste Mary Harney today replied to Mr Rabbitte: “All I’ve got to say is that there is no legislation promised in relation to that matter.”

Mr Bruton later jokingly asked when the Defamation Act would be ready.

Deputising for Opposition leader Enda Kenny, he earlier told the Dáil that the Taoiseach had misrepresented him when Mr Ahern said that the TD knew that gardai had been transferred from Dublin, when he calculated figures on garda numbers.

Mr Bruton said he had not known of the transfers.