asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state the occasions since the end of World War II on which the terms of bilateral trade agreements with Western Germany have been violated by the Germans; and if he will furnish the details of every such violation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trade Agreements with West Germany.
6.
There have been no violations of the agreements in question in recent years and, indeed, there appear to have been no significant violations of these agreements over the period of 25 years covered by the question.
In giving this answer to the question, does the Minister not realise that he is painting a picture of his Department as a group of people too lazy to dirty their minds with a bit of honest work?
I think this is a most objectionable statement. I told the Deputy last week that the question would require an amount of research which would not be warranted. If the Deputy puts down a question in three or four weeks time, I will be able to give him an answer.
This was a different question. This question relates only to bilateral trade agreements with one country. Last week the Minister told me that it would take a good deal of work to answer the global question I had asked. This is a simple, straightforward question.
The answer is simple and straightforward. There have been no violations of the agreements. There have been difficulties in arrangements.
Does the Minister expect me to believe this?
I am not concerned with whether the Deputy believes it or not.
It is common knowledge that time and time again the Germans agreed to take cattle from this country, and then broke the agreement.
Would the Minister expand on his statement to the effect that there were no significant violations? What does the Minister mean by that?
There have been difficulties and, as I explained the last day when this type of question was asked, it is a matter of opinion. There could be a fair degree of research done by several Departments to find out where arrangements broke down or where there were difficulties. As I have said, if the Deputy puts down the question in three or four weeks time I will get the information.
I will put down the question again.
Will the Minister still be in the same job in three or four weeks time?