asked the Minister for Local Government whether it is proposed to introduce legislation which would relieve Monaghan County Council from liability for claims for damage to property arising from bomb attacks in Clones, County Monaghan; and, if so, when.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bomb Damage Compensation.
85.
I would refer the Deputy to the statement made by the Minister for Finance in the Seanad on the 20th February, 1974, (column 203 of volume 77) when speaking on the Exchequer and Local Financial Years Bill, 1973.
There is a figure for bomb damage in Clones of £388,000 and the victims of that bombing have had to procure loans at an interest rate of 14 per cent. Would the Minister not agree that the Government should take immediate action?
First of all, I should like to point out to the Deputy that ministerial responsibility under the malicious inquiry code rests with the Minister for Justice. If it will help the Deputy I will quote for him what the Minister for Finance said in the Seanad on 20th February.
On the point raised by Senator Dolan, the Government have already given an assurance that any bomb damage in border counties arising out of the unhappy disturbances in the North of Ireland will not become a charge on local rates.
I would ask Deputy Leonard to leave it at that because that is as definite as it could be from the Minister for Finance.
Does the Minister not realise that if people have to pay 14 per cent interest for three years that it will be almost 50 per cent of the cost——
That is a separate question.
Is the Minister also aware that prior to the general election in February, 1973, the leaders of the Fine Gael and Labour Parties gave an assurance to the Monaghan County Council that they would foot the Bill for bomb damage?
The damage did not occur at that time Deputy Leonard is out of line with his comments. There was no bomb damage before the general election such as he is referring to now. The commitments he is talking about were not given.
I would take the Minister up on that point.
We must not have an argument at Question Time.
I would ask the Minister to check back on his dates.
(Interruptions.)
If there was bomb damage before the last general election perhaps Deputy Leonard or Deputy Colley would like to tell me why the previous Government did nothing about it.
We cannot have arguments at Question Time. Question No. 86 is postponed. Question No. 87.
(Interruptions.)
Will the Coalition leaders honour that assurance?
The Minister has made a statement. Is he withdrawing it or not? Is he saying that there was no bomb damage in Clones before the last general election? Is he bluffing as usual?
I am not interested in whether Deputy Colley scores a political point.
I am concerned with the truth.
So far as I am concerned truth does not come into this because I will tell the truth. If the bomb damage was there before the last election Fianna Fáil did nothing about it——
(Interruptions.)
Is the Minister aware that the bomb damage in Clones in 1972——
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 86 postponed.
Deputy Ryan, Minister for Finance, gave an assurance to the Senate, and this was more than Fianna Fáil did.
Arising further from the Minister's reply——
There can be no further supplementary questions. I am calling question No. 87.