asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has yet received the report of the Industrial Development Authority on the feasibility of extending the activities of Irish Steel, Limited, so as to put the sheet mill and blooming mill in production, thus giving much needed employment in Cobh and the Passage area, County Cork, and, if not, when he expects to receive the report and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Activities of Irish Steel, Limited.
I have not yet received the report referred to by the Deputy and I am not, therefore, in a position to make a statement on the matter.
Is it not a fact that the report referred to by Deputy Corry in this question is already in an office in the Department of Industry and Commerce?
I have received no report.
Mr. Boland
On the matter of Question No. 41, my veracity was called into question and the Minister was not able to give information as to whether what I said was correct or not. Will the Minister make inquiries from the Commissioner as to whether I spoke the truth in the matter?
Nonsense. The Minister stated that he did not know.
Mr. Boland
In justice to a Deputy, when I make a bona fide statement, am I not entitled to have it verified or else proved untrue? All the Minister said was that he did not know and that is not good enough in a matter of such seriousness. I would ask the Minister to ask the Commissioner whether I spoke the truth or not.
I was asked by Deputy Flanagan if the statement of Deputy Boland that a person who had been disqualified was driving a car in County Roscommon and I said that I did not know whether that was true or not. I made a statement on Thursday last that no such instruction was given and Deputy Boland is making a charge against the police of failure to do their duty. Deputy Boland said that the Gardaí now knew about this matter, but I have not made any further investigation since because I think that the Gardaí are doing their duty in the matter. If there was a person driving a car who had been disqualified, I am surprised to learn that they would have in any way shielded him or that they would not have put the law into operation.
Might I inquire for the information of Deputies if Deputy Boland actually saw the man driving?
Mr. Boland
He actually did.
The Minister should take the Deputy's word then.
I propose to raise the subject matter of Questions Nos. 26 and 27 on the Adjournment.
I will consider that.