asked the Minister for Defence whether the slates purchased under the contract referred to on page 259 of the Irish Trade Journal, December, 1936, were produced in a Saorstát slate quarry, and, if so, what quarry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchase of Slates.
The slates referred to were not produced in a Saorstát slate quarry.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is it not a matter for surprise that, while the ordinary citizen of this State cannot get a grant wherewith to build his house unless he gets slates out of an Irish slate quarry, the Minister for Defence of Saorstát Eireann when he wants slates goes and buys them abroad? I should like to ask the Minister whether public money was spent on those slates and on the building in the completion of which those slates were used, and, if so, why is it that his colleague, the Minister for Local Government, will not allow citizens of this State to do what he is at present doing?
Those buildings may be 100 or 150 years old. There was a certain type of slate used, and we had to get repeat orders of those slates. We did our utmost to get them of Irish manufacture, but the firms who were asked to tender could not give them.
In similar circumstances, is the Minister prepared to say that applicants for housing grants will be secured those housing grants by the Executive Council when they in their case find they are unable to get slates from Irish quarries?
In similar circumstances slates may be imported.
And will the Minister for Local Government give the housing grant?
In similar circumstances.
Look at him shaking his head. There are three Ministers on the Front Bench each of them telling a different tale.
And the question is to one, I presume?
Quite, but the whole chorus has joined in, and the chorus has become extremely discordant. Would somebody now strike the note which the Government wants to strike?
I should like to ask if a duty were paid on the import of those slates, because it would be interesting to know whether it was the intention of the Minister to forego the duty?
I presume the 5/- per cwt. was paid. If the Deputy wants a definite reply to that, he had better put down a question.