I should like to amend the Order of Business, if I may, by putting No. 4—the Supplementary Estimate for Forestry—back to the end of the list.
Order of Business.
Do I understand correctly that the Government have now decided not to introduce either the nitrogenous fertilisers Supplementary Estimate or the Bill before the Christmas recess?
I think there may be a Supplementary Estimate.
It will not be necessary to have a Supplementary Estimate.
Whether it is or not, may I make it quite clear that, as I said roughly ten days ago on the Order of Business, we regard it as essential that the costings in relation to the expenditure of £6,000,000 should be published and that it is most undesirable that the publication of those costings should be deferred until after Christmas? Surely the Government, after all this period, are in a position at least to introduce the Bill and to take the Second Reading or even the speech by the Minister on the Second Reading.
The Deputy will appreciate that while I am very anxious to give all the costings necessary for a full debate, there are certain commercial considerations that limit the information I can give. I am quite prepared at the earliest possible stage to give the fullest possible information to the Dáil but I do not see what the point is in having it before Christmas when the Dáil is convening so soon after Christmas.
The Minister will also appreciate that there is a very undesirable precedent in a commitment of £6,000,000 being made before any information is made available to the House. In those circumstances, when the commitment has been made, it is essential that not merely the House but the country should be given the figures at the earliest possible moment. The Minister will agree with me completely when I say that the place where that information should be given is the Dáil.
If I undertake that I will endeavour to have it at the very earliest moment the Dáil reassembles after Christmas——
We were led to hope that we would get it this side of Christmas and we did not.
It will be the first business after Christmas.
If the Bill were introduced, it might be possible to circulate a White Paper with it giving the information even during the Recess. That would come some of the way to meet the problem that presents itself. As I understand the situation, a good deal of this information has already been imparted to vocational bodies and it does not appear seemly that this information should be floating about in an anonymous kind of way and that the Dáil should not have it in view of the commitments into which the Government have entered. Would the Minister consider introducing the Bill and the White Paper could be circulated with the information at the earliest possible moment?
The Minister will appreciate that a vocational body has the information?
Deputy Dillon used the plural and said "vocational bodies". There was only the NFA. They were basing criticism on false premises and we thought it better to give them some information to put them on the right track. It was given on the understanding that it was in confidence and that it was my obligation to give the Dáil the information first.
I appreciate that, but the Minister will agree that, once information has been imparted, naturally it is circulated in an anonymous kind of way and there is speculation as to what the information may have been. All I am asking is that at the earliest hour full information should be given and if the Minister does not care to do it by way of introducing the Second Stage before the Recess, then he might introduce the Bill and circulate a comprehensive White Paper giving the facts in the White Paper.
I will consider that suggestion and also Deputy Sweetman's suggestion to see if we can get some information on the floor of the House before Christmas.
Has the Taoiseach had an opportunity of considering our request for an Adjournment Debate?
I do not know if the Deputy contemplates that we might go on into the following week?
I think that would be unnecessary.
We might talk about it on Tuesday next. I am anxious to facilitate Deputies in regard to an Adjournment Debate, if the business of the House concludes and if it would not involve meeting the following week.
I think we certainly should have an Adjournment Debate before we adjourn for the Christmas Recess, presumably on next Thursday.
We can meet on Tuesday.
The Whips can get in touch.