Vol. 328 No. 2
I move:
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £1,193,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 1981 for salaries and expenses in connection with Forestry and for payment of a grant-in-aid.
By agreement, this Supplementary Estimate has been passed without debate, but I will outline the details fully——
No, no.
——in the course of the main Estimate.
No, no.
There has been no agreement on any Supplementary Estimate in my section to by-pass the debate.
By agreement, this Supplementary Estimate has been passed without debate now. I will outline the details fully in the course of the main Estimate. Might I point out that the reasons and the amount of money involved were conveyed to the Whips last Thursday. The printed version was circulated to the Party Whips last Tuesday, before we moved it. We can discuss it completely and fully in the course of the debate which will follow immediately.
On a point of order, I am not satisfied with this, because the money provided in the Supplementary Estimate on Forestry is part of political gangsterism in relation to the taking over by the State of a partcular chipboard company because of the involvement in that company of Fianna Fáil hacks.
I am sorry, Deputy——
I am not allowing the debate on this Supplementary Estimate to pass without being challenged in this House.
Does the Deputy want the men to lose their jobs?
There are other factories involved in this Estimate which the Minister's Party neglected. There was a similar chipboard factory in Waterford which his party let run down and out——
Please, Deputy.
——because Fianna Fáil supporters were not involved.
The Deputy does not know what he is talking about.
He should go and consult his Whips.
This is political gangsterism. The Minister knows it is.
Would the Minister please speak?
The Whips have not told you about this.
I am not allowing the Supplementary Estimate through without debate. This is political patronage of the first order.
On a point of order, I want the Supplementary Estimate to be challenged in this House.
I can only assure the Deputy that there was agreement between the Whips.
At this stage, it is only fair to indicate that we did agree to this procedure. We agreed to it because of the circumstances.
The money has to be voted today.
To rescue a company.
I am glad that there are two gentlemen involved in this gentlemen's agreement.
Hold on. Do not talk about gentlemen's agreements in relation to Fianna Fáil, after the business over neutrality.
We are all gentlemen in Fianna Fáil.
That is political patronage of the first order.
We usually make gentlemen's agreements among ourselves.
We must have some order here.
There is an agreement.
I do not wish to upset the employment in Clare but there is a similar factory in Waterford which was let go out of business.
Might I ask the Deputies if they are going to agree to the Supplementary Estimate today?
As far as agreement is concerned there is a sum of £1,193,000 involved here. I appreciate that the Minister is faced with a rescue operation as far as this industry is concerned but the Minister must also appreciate that we cannot pass this sum of £1,193,000 without a debate, remembering that it involves a very important forestry industry for Clare, without further explanation of exactly what share the State is taking in this, exactly where the amount of money is being put and furthermore what equity the State is taking in this Scariff industry. If we get these answers we will pass the Supplementary Estimate without a vote. We need a debate on this because we are not completely satisfied.
The Deputy's own Whip agreed to this.
There is too much money involved.
From what I have heard now the Minister will go fully into detail on this on the main Estimate and the matter can be discussed in detail on the main Estimate.
That was the agreement.
That was the agreement but at that point it will be too late to challenge a vote and the Minister should give us further details now. That is all I am asking. We should not be expected to vote money just like that.
The Deputy may, if he so wishes, challenge a vote on the main Estimate.
Next Wednesday.
All the information about the money involved was conveyed to the Whips a week ago and the printed version was circulated yesterday. Complete details will be given to the Deputies on the main Estimate and they can discuss the matter fully then. Any breakdown in communication has not happened on this side. It apparently has happened on the Deputy's side.
The information circulated by the Whips is simply what appeared here and what it involves is the ordinary share capital of £334,000 and a grant of £293,000. Has that grant been paid or where is the grant coming from? There is a sum of share capital of £200,000 and a loan of £466,000 giving a total of £1,926,000. I am not saying I am against this but I want to know exactly what this equity is about. What share is the State taking in it?
Will the Deputy accept my assurance that in the course of the debate on the main Estimate this matter will be fully clarified. Any questions the Deputy wishes to raise then will definitely be answered.
Will definitely be answered?
Yes.
The Deputy will appreciate that no vote can be taken today on this Supplementary Estimate.
