Terence Flanagan TD claims his office can submit parliamentary questions without his knowledge and approval

During a response to a thejournal.ie report on his using the Dail to target a water protestor Terence Flanagan TD claims his office can submit parliamentary questions without his knowledge. Fair play to thejournal reporting this core story but I think his answer deserved more scrutiny.

A TD used a Dáil question to ask if a water meter protester would have their dole cut TheJournal.ie Jun 28th 2014 Hugh O'Connell

A TD USED a parliamentary question to ask if the Department of Social Protection cuts the dole of people protesting against the government and specifically those involved in recent demonstrations against the installation of water meters.

Flanagan told this website that he did not have a vendetta against anyone,that his office – and not himself – had tabled the question and provided the information on behalf of an elderly constituent

Flanagan said he did not table the question himself, saying: “I didn’t table that personally myself, my office would have tabled that, they would have received that on behalf of a constituent who made a complaint.”

He seems to be suggesting his assistant submitted a question without his full knowledge and approval.

Here is the questions

Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility Tuesday, 24 June 2014

Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection Information on Joan Burton Zoom on Joan Burton the position regarding social welfare payments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter

Social Welfare Fraud Investigations Tuesday, 24 June 2014

Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the social media pages of those social welfare payment recipients who are under investigation for benefit fraud or regarding concerns that they are not actively seeking work are regularly monitored by benefit fraud inspectors to assist with any investigations against them; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

His name is right there on the question, are thejournals paraphrased quotes fair and accurate?, if so is he trying to pass off his responsibilty and privilege to ask parliamentary questions to his poltical staff, the PQ was a follow up to a series of questions he asked in March Search for fraud speaker:Terence Flanagan (KildareStreet.com) were these also tabled by his office without his full knowledge and approval?

Previous cases where he asked about a specific person, indicated by the use of (details supplied). in 2011

Fines Administration: Terence Flangan PQ 27 May 2014