asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether in view of the statement made and the undertaking given by the then Minister for Industry and Commerce in the Dáil on 8th May, 1958 to the effect that where a proposal to close a branch line was made the Board of Córas Iompair Éireann would receive a deputation from local interested parties, he will now state what change of policy has resulted in the Board's refusal to receive such deputation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Deputations on Closing of Railway Branch Lines.
29.
There has been no change of policy. C.I.E. have advised me that the Board has never refused to receive any deputation from local interested parties in connection with a proposal to close a branch line.
I asked on the previous question if the Minister had any functions regarding the Department of which he is supposedly the head. I think it is quite evident now that he has not. If he had——
The Deputy may not make a speech.
The Minister is aware that C.I.E. informed the Cork County Council, the premier local authority in county Cork, and the Cork Corporation, that they were not prepared to receive a deputation regarding the proposed closing of the railway system in county Cork. Is the Minister further aware that, as is implied in the question, the then Minister for Industry and Commerce, the present Taoiseach, indicated quite clearly in this House on 8th May, 1958, that deputations would be received from areas where it was proposed to close branch lines? Surely, then, the Minister has not answered my question as to when the change of policy came about. It must have come about within the past four or five days.
The Deputy is making an argument, not asking a question.
I am asking a question.
There has been no change in policy.
Arising further from the Minister's reply and in view of the fact that he has stated that there is no change in policy, with your permission, I propose to raise the subject matter of this question on the Adjournment.
I shall communicate with the Deputy in the course of the afternoon.
I hope the communication will be more favourable than it was last week.