asked the Taoiseach whether he has seen a report in a provincial newspaper of a speech by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture in which he is reported as having said that if a change of Government had not taken place a heavy cattle tax would now be in operation which would have completely and for all time killed our cattle export trade, and, if so, if he will state if there is any record in any Department of any proposal by the previous Government to impose a tax on cattle.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Tax—Statement by Parliamentary Secretary.
I have seen the report referred to by the Deputy. The statement which it attributes to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture appears to be an expression of opinion, based, no doubt, on a statement made in the Seanad by a member of that House who is believed to represent the views of the Fianna Fáil Party.
There is no record of any decision by the previous Government to impose a tax on cattle.
In that case, would the Parliamentary Secretary refrain from making statements which he knows are not correct? He said in that speech that if the previous Government had not been put out a heavy cattle tax would now be in operation——
Very likely there would be.
No such thing.
Senator Quirke advocated it.
There was a proposal before the Government for it.
And it was turned down by the Government.
Ah, well.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment to-night.