Jim Higgins
Question:5 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach the total number of retail outlets in each of the years 1970, 1980, 1990 and 1992.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Retail Outlets.
Information on the total number of retail outlets is obtained from periodic Censuses of Distribution. Censuses were conducted in 1971, 1977 and 1987. The total number of outlets engaged in retail distribution in these years were 33,850, 32,332 and 31,699, respectively. Work began in 1992 on the updating of the business register for this sector but figures for that year are not yet available.
I suggest that the downward spiral of the number of people involved in the retail trade will be proved when the statistics are available. I know this is a statistical question, but I put it to the Minister of State that the retail trade is on its knees, that small businesses are being cannibalised by the supermarkets and that jobs are being lost. Will the Minister of State bring the matter to the attention of the Minister for Enterprise and Employment or unemployment?
Policy does not arise now.
Whenever he comes into the House.
We will have Question No. 6. These are Priority Questions.
I seek the Chair's assistance on a point of order. In this regard I neither mean to be unruly nor to delay the answering of questions. I would again draw the Chair's attention to a Priority Question in my name which was withdrawn from the Order Paper this morning by virtue of an improper reading of Standing Order 33. I ask for the Chair's assistance and for an explanation as to why this course of action was taken.
I am frankly surprised at the Deputy. He raised this matter this morning and he is now seeking to raise it again. I cannot entertain it. It is a premeditated endeavour at disorder, especially coming to Priority Questions for which 20 minutes is provided in the Standing Orders of this House. It is most audacious of any Member to interrupt that precious time. If the Deputy sincerely wishes to get an answer, I have the answer for him. My office is available to him for this purpose. I respectfully suggest again that he consults my office in the matter, but this method of dealing with the matter simply will not and cannot be tolerated by me. Question No. 6.
In reply, a Cheann Comhairle——
There is no reply at all, Deputy. You are completely out of order. Question No. 6.
I was in contact with your office——
Question No. 6, Deputy Therese Ahearn.
There are 57 questions of differing varieties tabled to the Minister for Transport, with no reference to Aer Lingus. The last occasion upon which questions were answered in this House——
Deputy Flanagan is compounding his disorder. I must ask him to restrain himself.
——on the matter of Aer Lingus in crisis was last October. There has been a change of Government and the Chair has ruled out of order in a very improper fashion any questions related to the crisis in Aer Lingus. There are 7,500 people employed——
I resent deeply the implication that there is anything improper in the manner in which I dealt with the Deputy's question.
——in that firm.
If the Deputy feels there is, there is a remedy——
I have had no explanation.
——and I would prefer you to take that remedy than allow a slur to be cast upon the Chair.
I would refer the Chair, with the greatest respect——
Please Deputy, I will hear no more of it.
——to Standing Order 33. The Standing Orders of this House have been disregarded.
The Deputy's question has been dealt with properly and factually and my office is at his disposal to confirm that fact.
It is less than satisfactory.