Vol. 189 No. 4
andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Transport and Power if the management of C.I.E. received representations from the A.S.L.E. & F. concerning the desirability of having a second man in the cabs of the diesel electric locomotives recently purchased in America; and, if so, if this proposal has been accepted in the interests of the safety of the travelling public on the C.I.E. transport service.
23.
andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he is satisfied that the fifteen diesel electric locomotives recently purchased by C.I.E. at a cost of £750,000 can be used in the general services of C.I.E. in the cab front or cab rear positions with complete safety to the public.
24.
andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he has completed his study of the inspector's report into the operation of the fifteen American diesel electric locomotives; if so, whether he is in a position to state whether with full regard for the public safety these locomotives may now be used in the public service in accordance with specifications laid down by the management of C.I.E. both in the cab front and cab rear positions where necessary.
With the permission of an Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take questions Nos. 22, 23 and 24 together.
I have nothing so far to add to the replies which I have already given to previous questions on this subject.
Could the Minister give us any indication when he will be in a position to say when these trains will be run frontwards as they were intended to run?
I am not able to state.
Is the figure £750,000 for 15 diesel electric locomotives correct?
Something in that neighbourhood, £744,000.
And you closed our railway for £3,000.
You did not use it.
We used it all right. There were crowds of people wanting to use it the other day.
These engines can be driven only backwards.
What difference does it make whether the engine is running backward or forwards if the train reaches the appointed place in good time?
The Deputy is apparently prejudiced against these diesel locomotives. They travel equally well in one direction as in the other. If they have to travel for all time in one direction they will have effected the full economies expected.
They were not bought for that purpose. They were bought to go backwards and forwards. There was a major blunder.
Now, at this stage, would somebody sort out who is Minister for Transport and who is Minister for Power?
I think the Minister for Agriculture was taken over there a few times.
