asked the Minister for Transport if he intends introducing amending legislation to allow him involvement in CIE.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - CIE Amending Legislation.
24.
Existing legislation provides for a considerable degree of Ministerial and Governmental involvement in the affairs of CIE. Among the main powers in this respect are those relating to the appointment of members of the board, the control of long-term and short-term borrowing, the payment of subvention moneys as voted by Dáil Éireann and the submission of the Board's annual reports and accounts.
Matters of day-to-day administration in the discharge of the board's statutory powers and duties are the responsibility of the board and I consider that this is desirable in order to ensure that CIE have the necessary freedom and flexibility in the conduct of their activities.
I have no proposals at present to amend the existing legislation in this matter.
Do I take it that the Minister will not instruct CIE to run a train from Cork to Youghal?
We will not go to Youghal again.
I know very well that Deputy Barry has used very effective tactics in getting this question replied to. He can be quite happy that the Minister involved will provide an adequate bus service to convey the young people from Cork to Youghal.
The Minister is now answering a question that he was not asked. Deputy Barry should not raise a supplementary of this kind.
Did I understand the Minister to say that the Minister concerned, whom I presume is Deputy Reynolds, would provide an adequate bus service?
That does not arise.
It does arise.
Not on this question.
I know that Deputy takes particular satisfaction in getting this question answered.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Barry should obey the Chair. The Deputy has raised this matter six times already today.
This is relevant.
The Deputy has raised it on about four different questions. I appreciate the Deputy's concern for Youghal but there is a limit to what he can raise at Question Time.
I certainly do not mean to disobey the Chair and if you tell me to sit down I will, of course, do so. I want to point out the contradiction in what the Minister said. He said in reply to the question that he would not consider changing the legislation to allow the Minister to interfere in the day-to-day running of CIE. Later on, in reply to a supplementary question, he said that the Minister concerned would provide an adequate bus service. Surely that is a contradiction? Does the Minister not think if the Minister concerned is to interfere and provide a bus service that he should interfere to provide a train service, which is what the parents of Cork want for their children?
Those are individual matters for CIE.
Of course they are.
The Minister should not be answering them.
It is right that Deputy Barry should understand that the Minister is not interfering with the day-to-day administration of CIE. CIE have informed him that they will provide this bus service.