asked the Minister for Finance if he will give particulars of actual or intended repairs, alterations or decorations to the Irish Embassy in Paris, together with details of the actual or estimated cost.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Embassy in Paris.
15.
There are no works of repair, alteration or decoration in progress at the Irish Embassy in Paris at present. Repair and cleaning of the stonework facade, the re-slating of portion of the roof and repairs to chimneys were completed recently. The expenditure on the stonework amounted to about £11,400 and on the other items mentioned to about £3,200. Portion of the interior of the building was redecorated in 1962 at a cost of approximately £5,400 and it is intended to carry out the redecoration of the remainder next year at an estimated cost of £3,800.
Would the total of these figures come to a sum of £25,000?
Does the Deputy object to it? This is the Cork by-election, of course. It is a very valuable property which must be maintained.
I am asking a perfectly simple question.
We know well what you are asking.
And do you think it will be embarrassing in the Cork by-election?
The Minister is very sensitive today. Cork must be getting very obstreperous that it is upsetting the Minister. I am merely asking the Parliamentary Secretary if I am right in understanding him to say that the total of the figures mentioned by him for this repair work will approximate £25,000?
Why did you not close it when you sent somebody there?
You are all very sensitive.I did not realise the advices from Cork were quite so bad.
We are sensitive because it is an insidious Parliamentary question.
(Interruptions.)
I may mention that the cleansing of the stonework of the buildings in Paris was carried out at the instigation of the Minister of Fine Arts.
I am surprised at Deputy Dillon as Leader of the Opposition.