asked the Minister for Finance whether it is proposed to make any alteration or adjustment in the existing relation between Irish currency and sterling.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Financial Arrangements.
Major de Valera
Major de Valera
asked the Minister for Finance if, having regard to recent statements by the Minister for Agriculture and the British Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, he will state whether it is proposed to make any alterations or adjustments in the existing Irish financial arrangements; and whether there have been any negotiations in respect thereof with other States with a view to such alterations or adjustments.
With your permission, Sir, I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
The reply to both questions is that no change is contemplated and there have not been any negotiations of the kind indicated by the Deputy.
Major de Valera
The Taoiseach, I take it, understands that I was referring to a reported statement that on the debate on the Repeal Bill in the House of Commons the British Minister for Commonwealth Relations is reported to have said that on the matter of finance what the Bank of England would do was a matter to which he would give a well-considered answer later, and it was with a view to having that remark explained that I put down these questions.
Presumably the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs will explain that when he sees fit in the House of Commons. So far as we are concerned we have no information.
Major de Valera
I take it the Taoiseach and the Government have no information.
None that I know of.
Does the Taoiseach's statement mean that all the promises made by Clann na Poblachta have been put in abeyance?
A Deputy
Oats.
Have they put their promise in abeyance? It is a joke now, but it was not a joke during the election.
They are laughing at their own promises.
Order!
Arising out of the Taoiseach's reply, I should like to ask the Taoiseach a question. I do not want to approach it with the levity with which Deputy Aiken has approached the subject.
No levity at all. Very serious.
Is the Taoiseach satisfied that we can only solve these problems of full employment by adopting the policy of the Minister for Finance, Deputy McGilligan?
That is a completely separate question.
Well, it arises——
It is a separate question. Question No. 8.