asked the Minister for Finance if he will state whether chairs or other items of furniture have been manufactured by or purchased from the Tan-Sad Chair Company, Ltd., Lodge Causeway Fishponds, Bristol, since the 1st January, 1934, for use in Government Departments and, if so, if he will state the number and value of these different articles of furniture; the Departments in which they are in use; and why foreign-manufactured furniture is being obtained for Government Departments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Furniture for Government Offices.
No furniture was purchased from the Tan-Sad Chair Company, Ltd., either before or since 1st January, 1934, but two Tan-Sad chairs were purchased from a Dublin firm for use at the Galway Telephone Exchange at a cost of £5. Chairs of the Tan-Sad type have been standardised for telegraphists and typists and are now manufactured in the Saorstát, but the standard chair would not have met the requirements in this particular case, nor could two suitable chairs be manufactured in the Saorstát at an economic price.
Can the Minister say whether any of the rural woodworking companies in the country have been given an opportunity of making two chairs for the Galway Telephone Exchange?
I think that is a separate question, Sir.
It is certainly not separate from the question as to why it is necessary to import foreign manufactured furniture for Government Departments. I should like to ask the Minister also if he would throw his mind wider than the Galway Telephone Exchange and say whether any of this furniture has been supplied to the new National Health Insurance Society.
The Minister is not prepared to throw his mind anywhere. He is not like the Deputy.
The Minister is not prepared to take the necessary steps to answer Parliamentary Questions that have a very important bearing upon matters connected with the country.
Might I remind the Deputy that he did not put down the last question which he tried to ask?
I asked the Minister a definite question and the Minister is not giving the information.