Vol. 276 No. 13
I move:
That a sum not exceeding £3,169,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the period commencing on the 1st day of April, 1974, and ending on the 31st day of December, 1974, for expenses in connection with prisons, including centres of detention for juveniles; for the maintenance of prisoners confined in District Mental Hospitals; and for welfare services.
Arising out of the second Finlay Report on the escape of prisoners from Portlaoise, can I take it that certain of these moneys under the heading "Prisons" have been set aside to implement the recommendations of that report?
I cannot specifically say whether any of these specific moneys have been set aside for the purpose to which the Deputy refers, but he may be assured that such money as is necessary to improve security will be expended.
Since the Government have been in dereliction of their duty so far as the security of this nation is concerned, this is an extremely important subject. The Minister should let the House know how much the Government have spent on security in the past year and on improvements to prisons generally. We are entitled to know that in view of their failure in that field.
I can communicate the details to the Deputy.
This is not good enough. On the basis that we are willing to allow these Estimates to go through in this manner, the Minister should at least have the facts at his disposal. This is an extremely important issue. It has been of grave concern to the Opposition over the past years. It is not a detail. It is an extremely important issue. The Minister cannot treat the House in this fashion by saying he will communicate with the Deputy. The place for answers to Deputies' questions is on the record of the House and not in a letter from the Minister's Department to the Deputy.
I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that Question Time——
Today Question Time was suppressed. We did not have an opportunity today to ask these questions. This is a disgraceful performance.
I can give the Deputy some information. It does not relate specifically to the question he asked as to whether or not specific recommendations of a report which is not before me are included in these figures. The amount spent on buildings and equipment was £1,313,000.
Why is the Minister for Justice not here? There was a suggestion yesterday that all the Ministers would be here for this hour.
I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Justice.
I do not want to delay the House but the Minister for the Gaeltacht very reasonably did his duty to the House and showed courtesy to the House by being present. We have here the Minister for Education, the Minister for Transport and Power, the Minister for rising prices, and the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries. I should like to know from the Minister for Finance why the Minister for Justice is absent on the basis of a promise given that he would be present.
There may be some misunderstanding. Shortly after we started on this item on the Order Paper, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach came to me and gave me an explanation as to why certain Ministers would be absent. He said he hoped they would be able to get here before we finished and in time to deal with their questions. On the assumption that the explanation he gave me was correct—and I have no reason to disbelieve him—I personally would be prepared to accept it, but Deputy Andrews did not have a chance to hear about this because it happened while we were sitting here.
I apologise to the Minister for Finance on the basis of the explanation given by Deputy Colley.
