Vol. 326 No. 11
asked the Minister for Justice if he will indicate each subhead of each Vote for which he is responsible which is to be increased in the 1981 Estimates by less than 16 per cent and/or the officially expected rate of inflation in 1981; and how economies, if any, are to be made in respect of each subhead so as to keep within the provision in the subhead.
21.
asked the Minister for Justice how he expects the Office of the Commissioners for Charitable Donations and Bequests to reduce its travelling expenses from £25,400 in 1980 to £5,500 in 1981, as provided in the Book of Estimates and to reduce its post office charges from £4,710 to £2,610.
22.
asked the Minister for Justice how he expects to effect each of the following expenditure reductions in his Department for which provision has been made in the Book of Estimates (a) £2,000 on consultancy service, (b) £6,000 on travelling expenses, (c) £28,000 on office machinery and supplies, (d) £40,000 criminal legal aid and (e) £60,000 on compensation for criminal injuries; and if any of these cuts will result in a reduction in the level of services provided to the public.
23.
asked the Minister for Justice how he expects the Garda to effect a reduction of £419,000 in travelling expenses for which provision has been made in the Book of Estimates in view of the fact that expenses under this heading exceeded the estimated provision in 1980 by over £2 million.
24.
asked the Minister for Justice how he expects the Land Registry and Registry of Deeds to reduce its expenditure by £9,500 as provided in the Book of Estimates.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 to 24, inclusive, together.
The detailed information sought by the Deputy can more appropriately be raised when the group of Estimates for my Department comes before the Dáil. In the meantime I should like to state that the allocations shown in the Book of Estimates conform with the overall allocations decided by the Government and the necessary steps will be taken to ensure that they will not be exceeded.
Is the Minister aware that the format of the debate on the Estimates is such that it is not possible to have the type of detailed scrutiny that these questions seek to elicit? Further, will he indicate how he proposes to save almost £.5 million on travelling expenses by the Garda Síochána? Does this mean any reduction in the level of enforcement of the law?
I have not that particular detail, but by greater efficiency and improved organisation it would be quite possible to do what the Deputy is querying.
Is the Minister suggesting that the Garda have been inefficient in the use of their travelling expenses?
No, that suggestion is from the Deputy.
How does the Minister propose to cut half a million off their travelling expenses? Could he give us practical examples of how he expects this will be done, given that petrol costs have gone up?
When the Estimate from my Department comes before the House I will be glad to debate that aspect of my Department's responsibilities with the Deputy.
Is the Minister aware that there is no opportunity in the course of an Estimates debate, where people make long speeches, for any detailed scrutiny of this sort? The Minister is a Member of the House and he knows that as well as I do.
In reply to the Deputy, at all times I have answered all questions raised by all Deputies.
The Minister has not answered these questions.
There is no chance of cross-questioning in that debate.
Ceist 25.
A number of legitimate questions have been put down here by my colleagues and accepted by you, Sir, as being appropriate to the Order Paper. Is it proper that the Minister should reject these questions and indicate, in effect, that he will not answer them? Is this not an entire negation of what Parliament means?
We cannot debate this. The Minister has given an answer. I am not responsible for the Minister's answers. I have said that on numerous occasions before, and I have gone on now to Question No. 25.
Does that mean that, if the Minister declines to give the information when answering the question, that is entirely acceptable?
We cannot debate this matter.
