asked the Minister for Justice whether complaints have been received in his Department regarding instructions issued to the Garda Síochána in Cork, calling for special activity in holding up and prosecuting lorry owners who have not merchandise licence plates for carrying wheat, barley and other grain to millers for farmers; whether he is aware that such activity has already been responsible for a severe hold-up in the removal of grain to the mills, with the resultant financial loss to farmers in the area; and if he will make a statement in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Garda and Lorry Owners.
No complaints have been received in my Department in regard to Garda activity in the enforcement of the Road Transport Acts.
I am not aware that the Gardaí have been responsible for delaying the delivery of grain to the mills and I have been informed that there has been no prosecution for breaches of the Acts in connection with the carriage of grain in Cork in recent times.
On the 18th October, Gardaí in East Cork visited all persons who had not plates on their lorries. They warned them that if they carried any grain or cargo beyond Midleton they would be immediately prosecuted. I had no less than 11 lorry owners with me on Saturday week last and on Sunday week. With those lorry owners I interviewed the Garda inspector in Midleton——
The Deputy is giving information and not asking for it?
What year was the Act passed?
About the same time as it will take to clear you out of this— the next election.
I will see you out first.
The point I am making is that the complaints were made both to the chief superintendent of the Gardaí in Cork and to the inspector of the Gardaí in Midleton but whether they reported it to the Department of Justice I do not know.
That is not a question.
I can assure the Deputy that I have not received any complaints and no special instructions were sent to the Gardaí.
I only wanted to clear up a rumour.
Now the cat is out of the bag.
The rumour was——
Who started the rumour?
At least it is on your shoulders.
Go away. You are a common fraud.
You were responsible.
There were no prosecutions.
Is the Minister for Agriculture in order to tell a Deputy he is a common fraud?
Am I not? I withdraw the remark without hesitation. I always thought I was within the Rules of Order in calling Deputy Corry a common fraud. If I am not I withdraw it.
Ceart go leor.