Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 May 1943

Vol. 90 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Petrol Allocation.

asked the Minister for Justice if he will furnish a statement showing the quantity of petrol used by each Minister and Parliamentary Secretary in the cars allocated to them, for the four months ended April 30th in the years 1942 and 1943.

As I explained in reply to a question by Deputy O'Higgins on the 16th June last year, it is not possible to give the precise figures asked for. The records of the quantities of petrol issued are kept with reference to the cars and not to the users of the cars. I am informed that for all the cars employed on this service the total quantities of petrol issued for the four months ended April 30th in each of the years 1942 and 1943 were 11,018 gallons and 6,360 gallons respectively.

Is it not a fact that for a considerable portion of the period ending on the 30th April, 1943, the cars of Ministers and of Parliamentary Secretaries which have been bought by the taxpayer, and the petrol used in them supplied by the taxpayer, have been used on work in no way associated with the work of the Departments of the respective Ministers? Am I not right in suggesting that these cars are being used largely for political campaigns?

That is a separate question.

What is the Deputy using his own car for?

In regard to the allocation of petrol, are we to understand that the petrol referred to in this question is being used by Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries for political campaigns?

That, too, is a separate question.

It is one that requires an answer.

Deputy Hannigan should be slow to ask that question seeing that he uses his own car for political work.

Top
Share