asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the total medical expenditure per year over the past decade on pharmaceutical products for animal health.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Animal Health.
119.
The information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department.
Is that available in the Central Statistics Office?
It is not available in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries anyway.
Is it possible for the Minister to make contact with the Central Statistics Office which, I understand, keeps a record of retail sales?
I suggest that if the Deputy wants this information he should get it from them himself.
Would the Minister not agree that his Department's officials are paid to get this information for the House?
Statistical information of this kind has no direct bearing on the function of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. It would be more appropriate for the person who requires the information to get it there.
Why did the Department accept the question if they were not going to answer it?
I have answered it.
The Minister did not.
I told him that the information was not available.