asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what industries are in danger of stoppage or redundancy, whole or partial, as a result of the British dock strike.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dock Strike Effects.
76.
The Deputy may take it that in the event of a prolonged strike few, if any, of our industries would not be adversely affected.
Is the Minister aware that certain breweries at this moment are leaving grain and malt down the country because their production is so curtailed and the exports of beer are so curtailed by this strike that they have not room for it?
I am not aware of it. It is quite conceivable. Is the Deputy suggesting that we should try to smuggle some of our exports into Britain?
I would ask the Minister to answer the question which I put to him.
I do not know how I can be more open than I was in the reply which I gave the Deputy.
It is a pity civil servants do not write their answers in a more straightforward way. There is a different way of saying it—that most of them would be affected.
Yes.
Why was it not said in that way?
There is no difference.
One is straight: the other is crooked. Gobbledegook again.