asked the Minister for Justice the net amount paid to the Exchequer during the year ended 31st March 1971 from fines imposed by the courts in respect of breaches of customs land frontier regulations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Customs Regulation Breaches.
33.
The information sought is not available and could not be compiled without a detailed examination of court records in the different court areas. This would entail a considerable amount of work which would be altogether disproportionate to the value of the information.
Can the Minister indicate if the amount is on the increase or decrease?
No; I could not say.
Is it difficult for the Minister to ascertain whether more money was collected this year than last year or the year before?
Yes, it is, because it would mean going through the court records and the accounts not only in border areas but in every place in the country since, under the District Court Rules, people may be charged in the area in which they reside.
Nonsense.
Why is it nonsense?
Because the Minister is getting the money and knows where it is going.
Why is it nonsense?
If the Minister cannot tell the House——
The Deputy was talking about segregating it and I explained what is involved and he said it was nonsense. Does he accept that what I have said is true or that it is not true?
I beg the Minister's pardon.
Is the Deputy alleging that what I said is not true?
No, I say it is damned laziness. I did not say it is not true.
Maybe the Deputy thinks civil servants should spend an enormous amount of time to produce that kind of information for him but I do not think they should.
(Interruptions.)
I am calling Question No. 34.
As an elected representative in this House I should like to inform the Minister, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, that it is my privilege to ask whatever questions I choose to ask, and it is his duty to provide the answers.
As an elected representative also, as Minister for Finance and as a Member of this House, I should like to inform the Deputy that it is not the duty of civil servants to spend an inordinate amount of time producing information which may or may not be of value.
It is not that hard to get the information.
The Deputy thought it would be of value.
Whether the Deputy thought it would be of value——
The Deputy is the only judge in this matter.
Since when?
(Interruptions.)
It is time some of the Deputies opposite began to learn the rules of order.
The Minister has been interrogating Deputy Harte for the past few minutes.
Next they will have Frank Keane advising the Garda on fingerprints or something.
Order. Question No. 34.
Some of the older members of Fine Gael should teach some of the younger members something about the procedure in this House.
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 34.