asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the urgent need of dredging Balbriggan Harbour, and if he will take the necessary steps to provide a dredger to do the work as in accordance with practice.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dredging Balbriggan Harbour.
The responsibility for the maintenance of Balbriggan Harbour lies with the Dublin Port and Docks Board from which body no application for the hire of a dredger has been received.
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, my question was meant to ascertain whether the Minister would provide a dredger as heretofore. I know the authority, and did not ask information as to that. I do not want to be told it; I know it. Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that either he or his Department has refused the use of the dredger to the Dublin Port and Docks Board, and that Balbriggan Harbour as a consequence is practically useless? Is he further aware that he resurrected a debt of 60 years ago, which was considered to have lapsed, and that he now wants the dues of Balbriggan Harbour raised in order to pay for the service of that debt? The service of that debt, plus the Board of Works' liability, would amount to more than the entire dues.
The Supplementary question has no bearing on the question on the paper.
But I submit that the Parliamentary Secretary did not answer the question put at all. I do not want to know who is responsible for the harbour. What I want to know is whether the Parliamentary Secretary is prepared to carry out his responsibility for providing the Dublin Port and Docks Board with a dredger to dredge Balbriggan Harbour as they have done every year up to this? Are they prepared now, in the terms of the question, to provide a dredger on the same terms as heretofore? I want "yes" or "no" to that.
No application has been received for the hire of a dredger by the Dublin Port and Docks Board. I have no responsibility to provide them with a dredger except on an application for hire.
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, my information is that his Department has been asked, but, passing from that, is the Parliamentary Secretary prepared to supply the dredger, when asked by the appropriate authority, on the terms that obtained heretofore? That is a question to which I want "yes" or "no" as an answer. I should like to press for an answer to that question.
The Chair cannot force the Parliamentary Secretary to give an answer.
May I have an opportunity of raising it on the Adjournment after the main debate?
There can be no Adjournment debate after the main motion for the Adjournment has been decided.
The Parliamentary Secretary is taking refuge behind that. The Minister for Finance evaded that question although he promised Balbriggan to dredge the harbour for them.