asked the Taoiseach to whom parliamentary questions on the Government's policy in regard to the overall problem of unemployment are to be addressed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Parliamentary Questions on Unemployment.
My reply to this question must, necessarily, be subject to any rulings by the Ceann Comhairle —who, under Standing Order No. 49, "is the sole judge of order in the Dáil"—as to the application of Standing Order No. 31, which states that "Questions addressed to a member of the Government must relate to public affairs connected with his Department, or to matters of administration for which he is officially responsible."
Subject to what I have just said, I take the view that general questions relating to broad issues of Government policy should, ordinarily, be answered by me, but that questions relating to particular aspects of a matter such as the unemployment problem should be answered by the Minister or Ministers immediately concerned: for example, questions relating to industrial unemployment, by the Minister for Industry and Commerce, and questions relating to unemployment alleged to be caused by the Government's fiscal or financial policies, by the Minister for Finance. Questions of a purely statistical nature relating to unemployment are answered by my Parliamentary Secretary on my behalf or by the Minister for Social Welfare.
Is the Taoiseach aware that last week I addressed a question specifically to him in connection with the chaos which existed in the building industry? That question was transferred to the Minister for Local Government, notwithstanding the fact that the Minister for Local Government is solely responsible for housing, whereas the building industry is a matter of Government policy as it deals with Government schools and other buildings like that.
The question was dealt with by the Ceann Comhairle and by the Office, if I may say so, in strict accordance with Standing Orders.
The Taoiseach did not mention that the Minister for Industry and Commerce had any responsibility in regard to unemployment. The Minister for Industry and Commerce was not mentioned.
Major de Valera
Arising out of the Taoiseach's reply, in answer to the question itself, who is responsible for the overall policy in regard to employment, seeing that the facets are broken up and obviously uncoordinated, as they appear to be from the Taoiseach's evasive answer?
It was the Deputy's Government which adopted that system in this House—not we.
I cannot let Deputy de Valera make that comment that my answer is evasive. It is perfectly clear. I want to make it very clear to the Ceann Comhairle that I am prepared to answer anything. I will answer any question about anything, if it is within Standing Orders.
Major de Valera
All right. Deputy MacBride should follow that up.