andMr. Begley asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the considerable dissatisfaction in south-west Cork and south Kerry due to difficulties in getting Radio One reception; and if he will take immediate steps to improve the situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Radio Reception.
23.
I dealt with this problem in the course of my statement on the Estimate for my Department on 30 May 1980 and would refer the Deputies to the Official Report for that date, Volume 321, No. 8, columns 1249 and 1250.
Arising out of the previous question——
I have called Question No. 23. I want to finish the two remaining questions concerning this Department.
On a point of order, speaking as an unprejudiced outsider, it must be said that Deputy Killilea has avoided six or seven consecutive answers to plain questions.
Deputy Kelly is not entitled to make statements in the House.
The reason this Question Time is so unruly is that this foghorn in trousers is shouting everyone else down.
Question No. 24.
This is outrageous.
(Interruptions.)
With Deputy Kelly nothing could be orderly.
I am awaiting a reply to my Question No. 23.
A reply has been given to that question.
I did hear some noise coming from the Minister's direction but it was rather difficult to hear him. I would ask him to give the reply again.
I dealt with this problem in the course of my statement on the Estimate for my Department on 30 May 1980 and would refer the Deputies to the Official Report for that date, volume 321, No. 8, columns 1249 and 1250.
I protest that this is an outrageous reply to a parliamentary question. I have not been given the information requested and there is no point in referring me to the Official Report.
With the permission of the House, we will take the final question.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I do not see why we should facilitate this Minister after his performance here today.
Since the House has not agreed, we will now move on to the next business. Question Time is now over.
I wish to raise questions in regard to Question No. 23.
Question Time is now over. The House did not give the Chair permission to extend it.
The reply was given after 3.30 p.m.
The House would not give the Chair permission to take the final question so we must move on to the next business.
On a point of order, the reply was commenced after 3.30 p.m. and because of that I will not accept——
We must move on to the next business.
May I raise a point of order?
No, not on questions. The Chair asked the House for permission to take the additional questions and such permission has previously been granted on numerous occasions. The House refused to give that permission.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The House is quite within its rights.
The Chair has no power to allow any more questions.
On a point of order, would the Chair agree that the matter could be resolved if the Minister would agree to take both Questions Nos. 23 and 24 tomorrow?
I have answered Question No. 23.
The Minister has not done so.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 2 on the Order Paper for Thursday, 5 June 1980.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to give notice of my intention to raise on the Adjournment the question of industrial relations in Aer Lingus and industrial relations generally.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the dispute in the national school at Borris, County Carlow.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I request permission to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the visit of the Minister for the Fisheries and Forestry to a Fianna Fáil dance in County Donegal.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
It is disgraceful that a Minister should go to a Fianna Fáil function in Donegal and not attend to his own business while he is there. He is being paid out of public funds.
On a point of order, I wish to raise the matter that I am not permitted to ask any Supplementary questions arising out of Question No. 23, to which a non-reply was given after 3.30 p.m.
The question was called before 3.30 p.m.
The reply was given after 3.30 p.m. and I cannot accept that it is proper that I should be precluded from asking supplementaries.
That has been the rule of the House for many years.
If that is the rule, then the reply should not have been given to the question.
The question was called before 3.30 p.m. Deputy O'Keeffe should not argue with the Chair.
On two occassions I put down this question and difficulties were raised in so doing. It seems I am being deliberately stopped from raising queries on this matter.
If Deputy O'Keeffe is making a charge against the Chair, he should withdraw it.
I am not making a charge against anyone
The Chair considers that the Deputy is making a charge against it in saying that he was deliberately prevented from raising his questions.
I have correspondence from the Ceann Comhairle, arising out of which, because of the very strong protest I made, I was permitted to put down these questions. I am not making a charge against the Chair.
That is all right.
I have been denied——
The Deputy will resume his seat.
Deputy O'Keeffe wishes to raise this matter on the Adjournment this evening and if he is not permitted to do so he will raise it in this House again tomorrow.
That is a threat.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy. The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.