asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether further to his statement of the 9th instant that CIE had, at his request, deferred increasing rates and fares, he will, in view of reports that CIE nonetheless proposed to put the new rates into operation, make a clarifying statement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - CIE Fares.
16.
I indicated in my reply of 9th June that CIE had notified me of their intention to increase fares and rates but that at my request had deferred action pending consideration of the matter. I also indicated in reply to a supplementary that the appropriate fare increases will be announced in due course. They are being announced this afternoon by CIE.
Why, if the Minister asks them to defer the increase, do they announce a Press conference?
That is their business.
That means the Minister did not intervene in any way to get that Press conference cancelled?
I have my business to do and they have their business to do. I am not under cross-examination by Deputy FitzGerald.
The Minister is. Did he intervene and try to prevent it but failed?
Deputy T. O'Donnell rose.
This is not a Fianna Fáil cumann meeting.
I shall listen to Deputy O'Donnell.
When is a decision likely to be taken by CIE on this most important matter?
If the Fine Gael Deputies would allow Deputy O'Donnell to hear me reply—and enable me to hear his intelligent supplementary question—we might get on better in this House. Later on this afternoon, CIE are announcing the appropriate increases in accordance with overall Government policy on the direction of the economy and the welfare of the people generally.