asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state whether he is aware that Mr. Daniel Beechinor, of Caherconway, Clonakilty, received a permit for four tons of coal on the 18th August and for another four tons on the 1st September to enable him to move and work his threshing machine, but that he has not been able to obtain any coal in respect of these permits, with the result that threshing operations in his district are considerably hampered, and if he will say what steps he intends to take to make coal available in respect of the permits given to Mr. Beechinor and when he may expect to get the coal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coal for Threshing.
I am aware that a person giving the name and address mentioned in the question was granted permits for the purchase of coal. It should be understood that the granting of a permit to purchase coal does not imply any guarantee that the holder of the permit will be able to obtain coal at any particular time or place, or from any particular merchant. The onus is on the permit-holder to make the best arrangements possible to secure supplies. It would be obviously impossible for me to arrange for the supply of commodities to each of the thousands of persons to whom permits are granted monthly.
Will the Minister explain why permits are issued when there is no possibility of obtaining coal? This is not an isolated case. The owners of steam threshing sets may be able to work their sets for threshing operations, but they cannot travel over difficult roads or lands. Mr. Beechinor got, an the 15th of this month, two further permits for six tons of coal each. Where is the coal, and if there is none, why not stop issuing these permits, and not be fooling the people?
I must maintain the position stated in my reply to the question. The least satisfactory way of dealing with the complaints of individuals is by raising them by way of parliamentary question.
That is a threat to anybody who has his case raised here.
We cannot discuss individual cases here.
That is a threat that the people concerned will be cut off.
It is not possible to discuss individual cases here. There may be circumstances in individual cases with which my Department has to deal which cannot be brought out here.
This is one of a whole series of cases all over the country.