andMr. Enright asked the Minister for Agriculture if the procedure whereby Deputies direct representations to the Secretary of his Department is now being altered to channel representations to him or his Ministers of State.
10.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Deputies' Representations.
9.
andMr. Enright asked the Minister for Agriculture if there has been any recent change in the issue of replies to Deputies' queries by his Department.
11.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has issued a Directive, or other oral or written instruction to the Secretary of his Department, that all queries and representations by Deputies, must be through his private office; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 10 and 11 together.
The answer to these questions is no.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister saying that replies are not now being sent out to Deputies either by himself or by another Minister of State notwithstanding the fact that the letters were addressed to the Secretary of the Department?
The Minister dealt adequately with that matter during an adjournment debate on 28 April.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I understand the Minister to have said that there has not been any change.
I said that the answer to the questions is no.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Would the Minister not agree that prior to the present Minister taking office, letters addressed by Deputies to the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture were answered in all cases by the Secretary but that since the present Minister took over, such letters are being answered in some cases by Deputy Allen and in other cases by the other Minister of State in the Department?
That is not so but I answer any letter that is addressed to me.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister saying that he has not answered any letter that was addressed to the Secretary of the Department?
Any letter that comes within the ambit of my responsibility and which is referred to me will be answered by me.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is it not the position that letters addressed now by Deputies to the Secretary of the Department are being answered in some cases by the Minister of State who is present and would the Minister agree that there is a change in the situation in this regard since the present Minister took office?
To my knowledge, there has not been any change.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Because of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to raise this matter on the adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I would remind the Deputy again that this matter was clarified by the Minister during the adjournment debate on 28 April. If the Deputy had been here then, he would know what the situation is.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I do not care about what the Minister said then. The point is that the questions on the Order Paper today in this regard have not been answered in accordance with the facts.
Is the Minister telling us that the position now is that when a Deputy writes to or telephones the Department and is told that a reply in writing will issue, he may expect that reply to be signed by the Minister of State, Deputy Allen, and addressed Dear Paddy or Dear Neil?
I do not recall writing to the Deputy at all.
Is the Minister telling the House that he does not reply to representations in respect of which there has not been any direct approach made to him?
We cannot have a discussion about it. This matter was dealt with during an adjournment debate apart from its being raised time and again.
It is the pattern of this administration to act in this way.
The Chair must take note of repetition.
A concerted attempt is being made by certain junior Ministers to interfere with the normal responsibilities and privileges of public representatives in seeking information.
That is an allegation. We must move on to the next question.