asked the Minister for Finance to state whether he has received any demand from the Electricity Supply Board for any part of the sums of £46,302 and £596,312, being balances authorised to be paid to the Board under Section 12 (2) (as amended) and 12 (3) respectively of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1927.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electricity S. B. Finance.
Demands have been received from the Board for further advances under Section 12 of the Electricity Supply Act, 1927, but as those demands were inconsistent with the Agreement as to the interpretation to be placed on the section, I have referred in my reply to Deputy Lemass on the 20th May, they have not been acceded to.
May I ask the President whether he is aware that serious complaints have been made by traders over the delays in the payment of accounts due by the Electricity Supply Board and that the plea has been made by the Board that they have not the money to pay them?
What has that got to do with the question?
That is the reason for the question.
The Deputy ought to put down that question, ask that question, and not ask this one.
I want to point out that I had that in the original question but the Chair ruled it out and said that I could ask it by way of supplementary question. I would like the President to be made aware of that fact.
The President is not responsible for the payment of accounts by the Electricity Supply Board to traders.
And I do not propose to answer for them.
If traders are complaining bitterly that their accounts are not being paid by the Board, and if the Board make the case that they would pay them if the Minister for Finance gave them the money, I contend that there is every reason why the President should answer that point and make the money available.
Is the Deputy asking a question or making a statement?
I am asking a question.
The President is not answerable for the payment of these accounts.
If the necessary particulars are supplied to us we will deal with the situation in a proper way. Does the Deputy want the money advanced without the exact particulars or without authority?
Are the accounts to be unpaid?
Was not the authority given to advance money by an Act of the Oireachtas?
Is the Deputy perfectly sure of that?
Absolutely.
Is the President prepared to state that that is giving fair play to traders who have supplied goods?
The President has nothing to do with that.
The Deputy is getting a cheap advertisement for nothing.
The Deputy must be clear that the President has no responsibility for the transactions of the Electricity Supply Board with traders.
Advise the traders to write to me. It is no use writing to the Deputy.
If the President will guarantee that they will be paid their accounts, I will advise them.