asked the Taoiseach the total cost involved, including the costs of the GIRA Report of meetings and of secretarial expenses, in the production of the Sectóral Development Committee's report on the beef industry which was recently published and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sectoral Development Committee Report.
7.
The total cost involved in preparing the reports of the Sectoral Development and Sectoral Consultative Committees on the beef industry, including the cost of the consultancy report prepared by GIRA SA, and associated expenses amounted to £147,400.
The Sectoral Development Committee is an independent tripartite committee established in 1981 and representative of employer-industry bodies, the trade union movement and Government Departments and State agencies. The committee was established to evaluate and report on the current problems and potential for development of economic sectors and encompassed the proposals for sectoral industrial committees which were agreed between the employer organisations, ICTU and the then Government as set out in the First National Understanding for Economic and Social Development. The committee, in operation, is independent of the Government. The work of the committee is funded mainly from an allocation from the Employer Guarantee Fund. The Employer Guarantee Fund was established under the First National Understanding of 1979 and was initially jointly funded by employers and by the Government. Arising out of the Second National Understanding an additional contribution to the fund was made by the Exchequer in 1981. Allocations from the fund were made following consultation with employer and industry and trade union bodies.
While appreciating that the Taoiseach, and the Government, are greatly impressed by consultants I should like to know if he agrees that the cost of this pamphlet at £147,400 is exorbitant? Will the Taoiseach agree that it is about time some decisions were taken on the most reported on industry in the country? How soon will we get decisions on the report?
The commissioning of the report is a matter for the Sectoral Development Committee, not the Government. Without commenting on the report itself I should like to say that a figure of £147,000 does not seem on the face of it excessive in relation to a report on an £800 million export business. The responsibility for the commissioning of the report rests with the Sectoral Development Committee, established when the previous Government were in office and which we have fully maintained and supported.
Will the Taoiseach give me a breakdown on the cost of the GIRA original submission and the cost of the sectoral report?
I am not quite sure of the purpose of the question but I will seek the information the Deputy is looking for and let him have it. If there is some difference that the Deputy is referring to I am not aware of it but I will certainly give him any information I can get.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the GIRA consultants are a Swiss group who originally reported to the sectoral committee? I want to know the cost of the original report to the sectoral committee by the Swiss group of consultants.
If that involves anything different from £147,000 I will let the Deputy know.
In view of the fact that Members on this side of the House have difficulty in hearing the questions addressed to the Taoiseach, and have considerable difficulty in hearing his reply due to the Taoiseach's manner of presentation, will it be possible for the Taoiseach to let us have a formal script from which we can read the reply? It is not possible to understand the Taoiseach.
I have rarely spoken in this House in so loud a voice than I did in replying to the last question. There was an attempt to shout me down at the first part of it and that is a matter for the Opposition, not for me. I have raised my voice as loud as I can.
If the Taoiseach answered our questions there would be no shouting down. It is answers we want.