asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of workers (a) resident in Bord na Móna houses and (b) not resident in these houses employed by Bord na Móna at (1) Timahoe North, (2) Timahoe South and (3) Rathangan at the end of the first week in December, 1952, and the corresponding date in 1953.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bord na Móna Houses.
The information sought is not available to my Department and could be obtained only by inquiry from Bord na Móna. I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by requiring the board to supply detailed statistics of this character.
In view of the simple character of the information sought, surely Bord na Móna could supply the information, without difficulty, to the House.
The Deputy, of course, is quite entitled to approach Bord na Móna for the information. It is a different matter to approach me and expect me to require Bord na Móna to supply it because it implies that I am responsible in this House for the employment policies of Bord na Móna, which I am not.
How does the Minister reconcile that with the fact that he recently supplied somewhat similar information when questioned by me in the Dáil, and also to Deputy Sweetman? Is Bord na Móna now ashamed of the pay-off of workers that took place this year? That is the reason Bord na Móna are ashamed, and it is no wonder they are ashamed.