asked the President if he will state (1) what arrangements have been made for carrying on the duties of the Minister for Defence and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce respectively during their absence in the United States; (2) whether any portion of the cost of the visit will fall upon State funds; and if so, what is the estimated amount and under which vote has authority been given for such expenditure.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - American Visit of Minister and Parliamentary Secretary.
(1) On the 25th September last the Executive Council, pursuant to Sec. 11 of the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924 (No. 16 of 1924) made an Order entitled "Minister for Defence (Agency) Order, 1929" authorising the Minister for Finance to exercise and perform as agent for the Minister for Defence any of the duties and public services of the Minister for Defence during the latter's inability, through absence from Saorstát Eireann, to exercise and perform such duties and public services. This Order was published in "Iris Oifigiúil," No. 81 of the 8th October, 1929, and was laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on the 23rd October, 1929; (2) Sec. 7 (7) of the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924, provides that each Parliamentary Secretary shall by his appointment be assigned to act as Parliamentary Secretary to the Executive Council or to a Minister and shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Executive Council or such Minister with the consent of the Executive Council (as the case may be) may from time to time delegate to him. The Minister for Industry and Commerce, with the consent of the Executive Council, has made suitable arrangements for the carrying out of the duties of his Parliamentary Secretary during the latter's absence; (3) No portion of the expenses of the visit to the United States of the Minister for Defence or of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce has been or will be defrayed from public funds.
Will the President say whether the Minister for Defence and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce will receive their salaries while in America on a purely Party mission?
I do not understand that question; the question is beyond my understanding.
Perhaps the President will tell us whether the Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary who are absent are on official business—State business?
No.
Then will the President say why they consider they are entitled to receive their salaries, seeing that they are on a purely Party mission?
Deputies get paid their salaries whether they are in attendance in the House or not. Perhaps the Deputy is aware of that.
Deputies do not get salaries at all.