asked the Taoiseach if he will elaborate on his recent statement, made in a speech to Limerick Chamber of Commerce, that the farming sector can be expected to provide the Exchequer with funds for development programmes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Development Programmes Statement.
2.
It is not the practice, nor do I regard it as appropriate, to elaborate issues of this sort by way of reply to parliamentary questions.
Is the Taoiseach aware that budgetary estimates of farmer taxation are notoriously inaccurate, that in 1977, for example, the budget estimate in this regard was £35 million whereas only £10 million was achieved——
This is a separate question.
——and that again in 1978 the estimated yield was £24 million whereas the yield now is expected to be only £11 million? Would the Taoiseach agree that the miscalculations are due to the present system of budgeting?
The Deputy's supplementary renders all the more appropriate the substance of my reply. I have no intention of discussing, by way of reply to supplementary question, matters of budgetary policy.
Question No. 3.
If, as the Taoiseach has said, farmers are getting more than £1 million per day, is there any proposal to change the present system of budgetary estimates?
When did I say that the farmers were getting more than £1 million per day? Perhaps that is the case but in what respect am I supposed to have said it?
It was part of a statement attributed to the Taoiseach a few months ago. He was referring to benefits from the EEC in general.
It is an underestimate, anyway.
If people attribute statements to me I should like them to be able to tell me when and where I made the statements.
Or where there were lapses of memory.
The Taoiseach is creating a false impression.
These snide little remarks will not get Deputies Keating or Mitchell anywhere. I would remind them that after that incident they remember we succeeded in winning 84 seats. I intend to be honest with the people as I always have been. The kind of behaviour in which those two Deputies are indulging will be the cause of keeping them on the other side of the House.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The people will remember how the seats were won and the promises on which they were won.
I assure anybody who tries in an underhanded way to attack me or to attack anybody else that the attack will be met.