: The Taoiseach has failed to clarify his position with regard to the speech made at Letterkenny.
Supplementary Estimates, 1980: Leave to Introduce .
Leave granted to introduce the following Supplementary Estimate for the year ending 31 December 1980:
Vote 43: Transport.
—(Minister for Finance.)
: There was implied incitement to violence and I want to know where the Taoiseach stands with regard to the statement by Deputy Síle de Valera. Is she going to make a similar statement to that of her grandfather when he said he would make brothers wade through brothers' blood? We are entitled to know where the Taoiseach stands.
: Is the Taoiseach going to remain silent?
: The Taoiseach is staying silent. He will not dissociate himself from the statement made by Deputy Síle de Valera. The Minister, Deputy Ray MacSharry, had to do that because the Taoiseach was not man enough to do it. Is this more of his ambivalence, more of his double-talk and double-think so far as Northern Ireland is concerned?
: Why is the Taoiseach remaining silent on this issue? We are entitled to get clarification on this.
: He believes in taking the two sides of the road. He is running with the hare and hunting with the hounds.
: On a point of order, what is the situation with regard to item No. 4?
: It was agreed.
: When will it be taken?
: The House has to say it agrees.
: It was merely for leave to introduce. It does not come up at this time.
: Is it not the case that the House has to give leave?
: I asked if the House agreed and nobody dissented.
: You are assuming that silence means consent.
: No.
: If the Chair assumes that silence means consent, does it mean that when the Taoiseach was silent he was agreeing with what was said by Deputy Síle de Valera——
: Order.
: The Taoiseach is afraid to disown her.