I do not wish to comment on the ruling of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, but I find here another note. It relates to the speech of the Minister for Industry and Commerce today. He spoke for 35 minutes on the small industries programme and went into detail in regard to it and to new plans he has for it. I was disappointed that I was not allowed to develop my argument in relation to agriculture——
Committee on Finance. - Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed).
Debate resumed on the following motion:
That it is expedient to amend the law relating to customs and inland revenue (including excise) and to make further provision in connection with Finance.
—(The Taoiseach).
The Chair is following the standard procedure of the House which has been there for a long time whereby matters which are relevant to Estimates may not be discussed on a general Financial Resolution.
What I am coming to is that I have here two pages of notes. I have just found them. If I had noticed them earlier I would have raised the matter earlier when I was developing the theme of agriculture vis-à-vis the Budget in the light of a publication last night by the Government. I have here two notes in reference to the matters raised by the Minister for Industry and Commerce today on the small industries programme and I wonder if I will be allowed to comment on the various points made by the Minister, or will I be ruled out of order.
The Chair will follow the procedure that a general financial debate rules out details which are relevant to Estimates.
All right, but as I have said the Minister for Industry and Commerce dealt with this matter in great detail, mentioning new schemes and so forth. I presume I can refer to it indirectly in the sense that it comes under the heading of industrial development. Before I do that, I wish to go back to the tourist industry. I expressed surprise that this industry, which has shown a remarkable rate of growth in recent times and has the potential for further development, is starved for lack of funds. I do not know why, in the light of the direct earnings from tourism last year, almost £100 million, the State subvention should continue to be only £4 million. In the light of that there is a cast iron case for increasing the subvention to enable Bord Fáilte to proceed with projects which have reached an advanced stage of planning.
The Minister for Industry and Commerce dealt at length with the small industries programme. I emphasise that he dealt at length with it; I am surprised that he was allowed to go so far but I was glad to note that there is one Minister who is allowed to make a statement in the Dáil instead of going down tonight to make it at some cumann meeting.
Progress reported; Committee to sit again.