asked the Minister for Finance if he will state how many meetings of the Economy Committee set up in 1927 have been held; whether they have made any recommendations; if these recommendations have been acted upon and, if so, whether he could give any estimate of the annual saving to the taxpayers as a result, and when a report of the Committee may be expected.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - The Economy Committee.
The Committee on Economy in Government Expenditure has held ninety-one meetings. The Committee has made no formal recommendations as yet, though in this connection I would refer the Deputy to the reply given to Deputy Good on the 9th April, 1930, and to my speeches on the Financial Resolutions on the 24th April, 1929, and 30th April, 1930, regarding my appropriation of suggestions which had been before the Committee and would normally have been incorporated in its report. I understand that the Committee has completed its investigation of the expenditure arising on the various services, and that it is now engaged in the preparation of its report. Owing to the magnitude of the task it is not possible to state definitely when the report will be available.
How soon will we have the report?
I do not know.
Considering this Committee has held 91 meetings, surely we ought to have some results from them? As far as I can judge from the Estimates, things are not improving but getting worse. They do not seem to be an Economy Committee at all. We expected something from them. I would like to hear something definite as to when we are going to have the report. Will the Minister consider appointing somebody else as chairman of the Committee, somebody who has not £1,200 a year, or was that the gag for the chairman?