asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is now in a position to state was any licence issued for the importation of an oil engine free of duty in 1934, and how many applications for licences to import oil engines or other similar engines free of duty were refused in 1934.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Importation Licences.
Numerous applications for licences for the free importation of new crude oil engines were refused during 1934, but the investigation which would be necessary to enable me to give a precise reply to the Deputy's question would involve an amount of time and labour which, in my opinion, would not be justified.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is he aware that this is a matter which has been canvassed in this House on several occasions? The Minister on a previous occasion contradicted facts which I alleged in this House, and said that no licence was granted in 1934. My object now is to compel him to repeat or repudiate that statement. The Minister now says that the investigations which would be necessary in order to answer my Parliamentary question to-day are unjustifiable in the circumstances, but he purported to have that information when he answered me in the course of debate. If he looked into those cases before when the debate was on, surely he ought to be in a position to vouchsafe to offer the information upon which he based his whole case on the previous occasion.
Is the Deputy entitled to comment on a question?
Has the Minister got the information?