asked the Minister for the Gaeltacht if he will state the date on which the section known as the Gaeltacht Services Section of the Department of Lands was transferred to his Department.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Transfer of Gaeltacht Services
hAistriodh FoRoinn Seirbhísí na Gaeltachta chuig mo Roinn-se ar an 15ú Deireadh Fómhair, 1956, fé Ionstraim Reachtúil Uimh. 257 den 3adh Deireadh Fómhair, 1956.
Would the Minister now have the grace to say that I was not in charge of Gaeltacht Services prior to that date? He has already asserted in the House that I was.
Seo mar a dúirt mé:—
"I have read carefully the Deputy's attack and I have studied the reasons he gave for having that individual dismissed. In referring to the matter generally, I should say that Deputy Lindsay was, in one way or another, for about nine months in control of Gaeltarra Éireann. He was in control of the organisation as Parliamentary Secretary in the first instance and subsequently as Minister."
The Deputy was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Gaeltacht on 29th June, 1956.
To the Minister for Education as well.
To the Minister for the Gaeltacht, as well as to the Minister for Education. Does the Deputy want us to believe that, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Gaeltacht, he was unaware that Gaeltarra Éireann was there at all?
I am not suggesting that I was not aware of the existence of Gaeltacht Services. What the Minister said was that I was responsible for the administration of Gaeltacht Services prior to the actual date on which they came under the Department of the Gaeltacht and all I am asking the Minister to do is to have the grace to admit that he was wrong when he so positively asserted that.
I asserted that the Deputy, between his duties as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Gaeltacht and subsequently as Minister himself, had responsibility in this matter. I think that assertion was correct and I think that the Deputy as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Gaeltacht had a duty to take an interest in a most important aspect of the Gaeltacht— Gaeltacht Services.
Arising out of that reply, how can the Minister assert that I had a duty with regard to an administration which was not under my care at all or under the care of the Minister to whom I was Parliamentary Secretary?
Surely, at that time it was under the care of the Minister for Lands.
I have already suggested how Deputy Lindsay might settle this matter, which is, in effect, an attack upon the previous Minister for Lands, Deputy Blowick, and on his administration of Gaeltarra Éireann.
Would the Minister not have the grace to say: "I am sorry". In fact, he does not have to say he is sorry; all he need say is that he made a mistake, because the Minister is wrong.
Ask him in Munster Irish.