asked the Minister for Finance whether, in view of the importance of the matter and in order to clarify the position, he will state whether at the Fianna Fáil Árd Fheis he stated that the Grand Canal would not be closed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closing of Grand Canal.
10.
The answer is yes, but in making the statement I was merely summing up, as chairman of the meeting, the result of a motion adopted at the Árd Fheis. What I said does not, of course, commit the Government in any way in the matter, and any proposals for the closing of any part of the Grand Canal would require detailed examination by the Ministers concerned.
So the Minister was not speaking in his capacity as a member of the Government?
No, speaking as chairman.
I have heard many lovely alibis in my day, but that is the grandest one I ever heard.
A chairman has to announce the result of a vote.
I was not making an alibi at all. The Deputy may practise that sort of thing.
It was good enough to fool the boys.
You do not fool those fellows so easily. They are not like a Fine Gael Árd Fheis.