asked the Minister for Lands if he will indicate on what grounds his Department refused to supply Deputies with a copy of the regulations governing the working conditions of forestry workers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Regulations for Forestry Workers.
These regulations are confidential instructions for the guidance of the Department's officers in the discharge of their duties.
Will the Minister state what reason is assigned for refusing a copy of such regulations to Deputies of this House?
Hear, hear.
The regulations are issued in the ordinary course merely for the guidance of the various officers of the Department, including the Forestry Section in which the Deputy is interested in this case. I think that if there are complaints that cases of harsh treatment or unfair treatment have occurred, the proper way to deal with them is to have them brought to my notice. If they are, I give a guarantee that they will be investigated and that whoever is responsible for having outstepped his instructions will be dealt with in the correct way.
Surely the Minister will agree that unless there is something to hide in the regulations, there can be no reason for refusing copies of them to Deputies of the House?
Hear, hear.