asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a newspaper report of a speech made by a Deputy in which he is alleged to have stated that drainage was a good thing and that before they left office the previous Government had a scheme in preparation on a wider and more permanent basis, and whether he has been able to find in the Office of Public Works trace of any such scheme for any, and, if so, what rivers in County Kildare.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Deputy's Speech.
I have read the newspaper report referred to in the Deputy's question. So far as County Kildare is concerned, no scheme of drainage under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, has yet been formulated.
May I ask if there was any scheme under any other Act which would affect and river of any major importance in County Kildare in his Department on the day on which he went into it?
The answer is "no."
Has the Parliamentary Secretary been able to find amongst the files of his Department anything which would justify the statement made by Deputy Harris?
The answer is again "no."
What a search that was!
Deputy Harris is not here to argue about it.