asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of his previous statements regarding his success in the poultry production business, he will now state what steps he proposes to take in order to help traditional poultry producers, who are finding it very difficult to remain in business, to improve their production methods and the returns they get from this form of agricultural production.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Poultry Production.
78.
Poultry producers can improve their production methods by availing themselves of the advisory services, grants, etc., provided by the County Committees of Agriculture and my Department, and of the more productive strains of poultry developed from the imports of high-class basic breeding stock permitted in recent years.
Will the Minister agree that the statement I referred to here that he made recently was misleading—
I will certainly not agree to any such thing.
Wait until he finishes.
The Minister is impatient. He was not so impatient about the apples. If poultry production is so profitable, according to the Minister, I should like to ask him why, since he became Minister for Agriculture, he has omitted poultry production from every statement he has made as Minister, including those on the comprehensive survey here and the Supplementary Estimate?
I would have thought I had focussed enough attention on poultry production.
And on Deputy Michael Murphy.
With a misleading statement, untruthful, and the Minister did not honour the assurance he gave me in the House.
A Cheann Comhairle——
Misleading, untruthful——
The Deputy asked a question and the Minister is on his feet to reply.
The Minister did not honour his invitation. I accepted the invitation but the Minister was bluffing that day and he did not honour the assurance given at that time. Of course, I would have accepted it but the invitation was never extended to me.
It was, and I extend it to you again now.
I waited two months to hear from the Minister.
This cannot be an argument; it is a question.
I waited for two months to hear from the Minister. I would have accepted the invitation and he did not honour it. I accepted it at the time.
(Interruptions.)
Deputies will not allow the Minister to reply.
Deputy Murphy said that I made misleading and untruthful statements here. I would expect you to ask him to withdraw that but, since you will not, I want to rebut it.
I heard no——
I am prepared to establish, and I have already established to the satisfaction of several independent authorities, the truth of the statement I made with regard to my poultry. I also invited Deputy Murphy to come and see for himself.
Publicly, in the House.
But Deputy Murphy retired to Cork the following day and has not been seen in this House since.
I have been seen in this House on several occasions and the Minister has several secretaries who could have written.
I invite him to come tomorrow morning.
I have no intention of accepting your invitation now. I accepted it before.
Did you want me to send a car for you?
I would have thought that you would have the courtesy to let me know.
Order.
The invitation to Deputy Murphy has remained open since I extended it in this House. It is still open. I will be there from nine in the morning, if he wishes to come.
I have no intention.
Question No. 79—the Minister for Justice.
Excuse me——
You are afraid to come out.
This is becoming an undignified squabble. I am calling the next question.
Will you give me an opportunity——
I will allow no further questions on the matter.
With your permission, in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply and the false statements he has made, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I shall notify the Deputy.
Deputy Murphy knows nothing about modern, up-to-date poultry-keeping, but if he comes out tomorrow morning, I will give him a lesson.
I will give you a lesson this evening in the House. You were bluffing when you extended that invitation. I thought it was an honest invitation. I accepted it in all good faith. I was waiting to hear from you since—not a word.
If I sent my car for him, Fine Gael would put down a question.
We did not put down any questions when the grey-hounds were going out to be trained in the State cars.
This is a very sensitive subject as far as the Leader of your Party is concerned.
Impudent scurrility makes no contribution to your performance.