I gave the President notice of a question as to whether he would be prepared to set aside time for the discussion of the accounts of the Electricity Supply Board for the years 1927-1928, 1928-1929 and, if so, when that time will be set aside.
The Adjournment—Allocation of Time.
Not this side of Christmas anyway.
The President is, of course, aware that none of these accounts have been discussed in this House.
The Deputy is very late in raising the question.
The President is also aware that the last accounts are twenty months overdue and that they are not yet published. If the President wants to get an intelligent discussion on these accounts, it is only fair that we should have a discussion on the earlier accounts.
I am invited to give time for discussion of accounts which have been before the Dáil for 18 months. And that is an urgent question?
Will the President undertake to give the Dáil an opportunity to discuss the policy which brought about the increased electricity charges recently announced?
That is another question. I was asked to give time for discussion of the accounts for the years 1927-1928 and 1928-1929, which have been before the Dáil for 18 months. Deputy Lemass has now asked me another question.
I take it that what Deputy Briscoe wants is to have an opportunity of discussing the increased charges on these accounts.
On these accounts?
When the accounts are available.
I will consider that. The other question is a silly question. We are to get the other accounts within the next couple of months. There is to be discussion on them and a discussion on the earlier accounts. Therefore, we are to have two discussions.
One discussion will do.
The discussion of the next accounts might be put on the long finger.
I have not put the discussion of the accounts on the long finger. This is the first time I was asked about them.
I handed in a question addressed to the Minister for Industry and Commerce and I was told that I would have to address it to the President, as it concerned the question of time. Would the President agree to meet the House and to say that if the accounts of the E.S.B., now overdue for twenty months, are not ready within the next two months, he will give time for the discussion of these other accounts?
I should like to be excused from answering a hypothetical question like that.
Will the President say that the accounts of the Board will be discussed within the next two months?
No.
Will the President give time for discussion of the policy which brought about the increased charges?
I will look into that question.
Will the President be prepared to give an answer when he has considered it?
I do not like to have these questions shot at me without notice.
The Dáil adjourned at 10.40 p.m. until Thursday, at 3 p.m.