andMr. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the present stage in the preparation of input-output tables for the economy; and the reason for the delay in their publication.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Input-Output Tables.
3.
Input-output tables have been compiled in respect of the year 1964, and an official report containing these tables will be published within the next few weeks.
The time-lag in publication is not any greater than in those other countries which do not compile annual input-output tables. The compilation of the basic transactions table is a formidable task which cannot be commenced for a particular year until the final results are available for the various statistical inquiries such as census of industrial production, national accounts, et cetera. Many subsidiary inquiries are also necessary to provide the substantial extension in detail which is a feature of the input-output tables.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say whether the 1960 table has been published and, if so, where?
The 1960 table was found not to be of sufficient detail to warrant its publication as an official document but the details were published in the Journal of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland and in lecture notes of the Economic and Social Research Institute.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say whether he means the reliability was not sufficient or the details?
Sufficient information could not be obtained at the time to guarantee the reliability of all the tables but the 1964 survey, which will be published shortly, will have sufficient information.
In addition to the civil servants employed in compiling the information, have any other officials been employed from outside?
Not that I am aware of.
Am I right in saying that a US expert was employed on this and did not work at all?
I am not so aware. I doubt very much that that is so.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary inquire?
Question No. 4.
I am asking the Parliamentary Secretary if, in fact, a US expert was employed who did no work.
That is a separate question.
What is separate about it?
Deputy Harte is outlining a possible reason for the delay. Would the Parliamentary Secretary confirm or deny that they had an economist over from the University of Pittsburg?
That is a separate question. It does not arise. Will the Deputy please resume his seat?
A Cheann Comhairle, we are entitled to ask supplementary questions and this is a very relevant question.
You are entitled to ask relevant questions, not irrelevant. The Chair rules that this is irrelevant.
This concerns——
I have called Question No. 4. Would the Deputy please resume his seat?
——the reason for the delay in publication.
This is why you are afraid of parliamentary questions.
Deputies
Chair.
The reason for the delay is that this expert——
Question No. 4.
Furthermore, you are protecting the Government on many occasions.
The Chair is protecting the Deputy because he does not know what he is talking about.
I am asking a very relevant supplementary and you are refusing to allow the Parliamentary Secretary to give the information.
We apparently know a great deal more about it than does the Parliamentary Secretary.