asked the Minister for Finance whether he has received any advice from the governor or directors of the Central Bank as to the position of the sterling area or as to the likelihood of a further devaluation of sterling; and, if so, what was the nature of the advice received.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Position of Sterling.
Disclosure of information regarding discussions between the Minister for Finance and the Central Bank would be prejudicial to the maintenance of useful relations between them. Accordingly, I regret that I am unable to furnish the information requested.
Can the Minister tell us whether he had any discussion, without even telling us what was the subject matter of the discussion?
I do not propose to answer that question.
Can the Minister tell us whether he received any advices from the Central Bank in relation to the position in the sterling area?
asked the Minister for Finance whether any formal or informal consultations have taken place between his Department or the Department of External Affairs and British Government Departments concerning the position of sterling; and, if so, whether he is in a position to state the nature of the matters discussed or the information conveyed to the Irish Government in the course of such consultations.
No such consultations have yet taken place, but, as I informed the Deputy yesterday, a discussion with the British Chancellor of the Exchequer has been arranged for early next month.
You want advice.
I do not know whether the Minister is replying to the question fully. Did any informal discussions take place between officials of the Department of Finance and officials of the British Treasury in the course of the last few weeks?
I have answered the question as the Deputy has put it to me.
I have asked the Minister in my question whether any formal or informal discussions have taken place. I am now asking specifically whether any discussions took place between officials of the Department of Finance and officials of the British Treasury.
The Deputy is not going to mend his hand. I have answered the question and I have nothing to add.
My supplementary question is a straight one. Why can the Minister not answer?
Why did the Deputy not put down a straight question on the Order Paper?
It is a straight question.
The Minister could not understand a straight question.