asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to introduce proposals for legislation to amend the Central Bank Act, 1942, with a view to giving to the Government through the Central Bank the power to control the issue of money and credit; and, if not, the reason.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Central Bank Act.
I am not satisfied that there is a need at the present time for amending legislation of the kind suggested. The issues raised by the Deputy involve matters of policy with which it is not possible to deal satisfactorily within the ambit of a parliamentary question.
Is the Minister not aware that, even when the Central Bank Bill was going through this House, the Taoiseach made a statement that if the situation was unsatisfactory we could change it? Is he aware that he said on the 22nd of last month that, before we could provide for any further services, we would have to pay £7? million for the service of the national debt? Is he further aware that the Cork City Manager stated two weeks ago that if we wished to build the houses to meet the needs of 4,000 families in Cork at the rate of 800 houses per year, we would want a million and a quarter of money?
All these are arguments, not questions.
I hope this is relevant. Is the Minister aware that, during his regrettable absence in Strasbourg, several local authorities, including Dublin County Council, Carlow County Council and Laoighis County Council, passed resolutions calling for the nationalisation and the reorganisation of the bank?
I do not think that is at all relevant.
That is entirely outside this question.
Is the Minister aware that, whilst he was in Strasbourg and giving an undertaking to the famous British Empire that this country established it more so than did any other, financial difficulties arose in this country?
That hare-brained. supplementary does not require an answer.