asked the Minister for Justice whether the special signs which were to be provided in the context of the crimewatch scheme are ready and available to local associations; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement in this regard.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Crimewatch Scheme.
14.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that Dublin Corporation have arranged that the first signs will be made available in about six weeks through local Garda superintendents.
Will the Minister state the reason the signs were not available? Obviously it could not have helped efforts to put the crimewatch scheme into operation if the signs were not available.
The Deputy is quite right in inferring that the signs have not been made available so far.
Why was that?
The reason was that we had to discuss with the Garda authorities and the local authority the funding for the signs, how the cost would be met and whether it would be met partly or wholly by the local authority.
I am now moving to priority questions.
I wish to reinforce the request which has already been made to the Chair to raise the question of the proposed extension to the national school in Tuam, County Galway.
I wish to express my disappointment——
Will the Deputy bear with the Chair for a moment?
I was put out of the House about three weeks ago——
The Deputy will hardly believe that I thought hard for a short time about whether I would call his question and then be abused for not allowing five minutes for supplementaries or if I would not call his question and give him an opportunity to try again another day. I decided on the latter course. I knew I would be blamed no matter what I decided.
Members opposite have put down priority questions and they are hogging the normal Question Time with supplementaries.
Are we not entitled to be here? Does the Deputy want to suppress the Opposition?
Order, please.
(Interruptions.)
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the serious crises facing the Irish pig and bacon industry.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 12 which the Minister answered most unsatisfactorily and in a manner which was disgusting to the House.
I will communicate with the Deputy. Priority Question No. 27.