asked the Minister for Finance the number of pigs seized by Irish customs authorities during 1966.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Seizure of Pigs.
37.
It is not customary, or I think desirable, to give precise figures for seizures of individual items by the customs. I can, however, say that the number of pigs seized by the customs during 1966 was small.
Could the Minister say what is the objection to giving the number of pigs seized, if any?
It would not be in the public interest.
In what way is it serving the public interest to keep it a secret could the Minister say? It is serving the Minister's own interest.
It is not the practice. These are long established practices and any departure from them——
Could the Minister give one good reason for keeping it a secret, when the Government have failed completely to seize any pigs because they did not want to seize them?
That is not so.