asked the Minister for Agriculture whether applications for land reclamation will be accepted and considered at the present time; whether any new instructions have been issued by him to the land project section in regard to the rejection of applications; and if he will state the date on which such instructions were issued.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Applications for Land Reclamation.
No change has been made so far in the operation of the land reclamation scheme.
Is the Minister aware that certain officials of his Department in the land project section have noised it abroad that they have instructions from the Minister that no applications are to be taken into consideration for another year?
I will read the reply to the question.
The Minister need not bother. I have heard it.
No change has been made so far in the operation of the land reclamation scheme.
Underline "so far".
The Minister's officials have made a change and it is not the custom of civil servants to make their own decisions. I believe the Minister has given instructions to kill the project.
It may be all right for a Deputy to say that he disbelieves a Minister. I do not know whether it is in order, but I usually try to keep within the truth.
Is the Minister not aware of what is going on in his Department?
That is a most likely thing indeed.
Inquire into the matter and if I am wrong I will apologise for the misstatement.
May I ask the Minister is it a fact that recently, in this connection, he received a deputation from land drainage contractors regarding the scheme and will he say what was the necessity on his part for the use of bad and abusive language?
When I am accused of using bad and abusive language by people whom I meet in my official capacity, then I will have something to explain, but it is a different matter when I am accused of using bad and abusive language by a man who, last night, said here that a Minister was telling an untruth—when the records in my Department proves that what he said was true—and by a Deputy whose word judges of this country said cannot be taken on oath.
That is Maximoe, Eindiguer, and Donnico. Hang your heads for shame.
Corner boy language by the Minister for Agriculture.
It was not perjury, anyway.