asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he proposes to make grants available to the Cork Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to enable the society to acquire more vans in which to round up stray dogs throughout County Cork where severe losses are being caused in sheep and lamb flocks.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Stray Dogs.
35.
There is no scheme or other arrangement operated by my Department under which assistance of this kind could be provided.
Is the Minister aware of the magnitude of this problem in County Cork? Has the Minister any figures or facts concerning this matter?
This question should have been put down to the Department of Justice because it is not my bailiwick.
If the problem is as serious as I suggest it is surely it is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries?
It is not a matter for me. I have no control or responsibility in this matter. It is a matter for the Department of Justice.
The Minister should have transferred it to that Department. Why did he not do so?
Because the Deputy put the question down to me.
Is it not within the right of the Minister to transfer the question?
No, it is not.
The Chair should rule on that because the Chair has so ruled recently.
It is not a matter for the Chair to rule on.
The Minister has said he has no function in transferring question to another Department.
I cannot transfer a question.
The Minister is wrong in that belief. It is done very often.
The Deputy is giving information that is contradicted by my civil servants.
If the Minister feels a question is not appropriate to his Department he should transfer it to another Department.
I cannot transfer it.
It happens every day.
My last question was transferred.
The Chair was called upon to find out if where we asked questions of Ministers and it was considered later that they were not addressed to the appropriate Minister those questions, without his intervention, could be transferred to what was considered the appropriate Minister. When questions came to us as Ministers if we thought they could be more appropriately dealt with by another Minister they were transferred.
That is if the other Minister is prepared to take the question on board.
As this question refers to lambs and the protection of livestock surely the Minister will admit some responsibility. If he is on speaking terms with the Minister for Justice he should transfer the question. Has the Minister any interest in matters affecting the livestock of this country?
It is not my responsibility.
Would the Minister consider with his colleague to have this question dealt with next week?
I suggest that the Deputy put down the question to the appropriate Department.
I submit that this is the primary responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.
It is not.
Has the Minister had any consultations with the Minister for Justice in relation to this matter?
No.
Is it not the responsibility of the Minister in view of the importance of this for the farming community?
I do not decide where questions go. If they are put down to me I will answer them unless the machinery changes.
The Minister said the Deputy was empowered to put down this question to the Minister for Justice for answer next week but is it not true that if that question is put down next week it will be disallowed?
Questions are sent to the General Office and decided on there.
Is it not true that if the Deputy puts down this question to another Minister for next week it will be ruled out of order?
The Chair has no control over answers given by Ministers.
The Minister has made a procedural suggestion to a Deputy which it is not possible for that Deputy to comply with because of the ruling of the Chair. This question cannot be put on the Order Paper for another six months. For that reason the Minister should not have made the suggestion he did.
Guidance in this matter could be obtained if the Deputy asked for it at the General Office.
I told the Deputy that there was no scheme or other arrangement operated by my Department under which assistance of this kind could be provided. It is not a problem for my Department and it has never been dealt with by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. The question should have been directed to the Department of Justice.
If that is so the question was a nullity. I should like a ruling as to whether this question would be allowed on the Order Paper next week.
The Ceann Comhairle considers all the questions having regard to all the circumstances.
It is not enough for the Minister when replying to a question which refers to a severe loss to farmers to say that it is none of his business.
I did not say that.
In view of the fact that the Minister has said that this question was not appropriate to his Department if it is re-entered will it be taken by the appropriate Minister next week or whenever it arises?
From now on if a question is put to the Minister which is not his responsibility I hope he will transfer it. Precedent is long established that entitles him to transfer it to the Minister responsible.
I should like to emphasise that I have no such power or authority if the Department considered appropriate say they will not take it. In that event I can do nothing about it except answer it.
There is collective responsibility involved and if the Minister's colleague will not deal with this matter somebody has to.
On a point of order, is it not true to say that on an Adjournment Debate arising out of a question a dispute arose between the Minister in the House and the Minister for Industry and Commerce as to who should take the question on the Adjournment on the butter subsidy?
I do not remember any such dispute.
Furthermore, that decision was taken between the two Ministers concerned with no reference to the Chair. The Minister is not, in fact, using his imagination——
(Interruptions.)