asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the ration of food allowed at each meal to persons who will be employed on the Government turf camp schemes and the hours at which the meals are served.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Food Rations at Turf Camps.
The scale of rations to be provided for workers employed on the Government turf camp schemes has not been finally settled, but it may be taken that the present ration is fully adequate in quantity and quality. It is, however, subject to variation in relation to limitations imposed by emergency conditions.
Rations on the existing scale are provided for workers who are housed in the reconstructed buildings at Newbridge and Edenderry, which are situated at such distances from the bogs as to render impracticable the provision of a midday dinner. It has, therefore, been necessary to provide a luncheon on the bog at midday and dinner in the evening. These cases are exceptional and when the camps situated close to the bogs are available for the housing of workers, arrangements suitable to and possible under the new conditions will be provided.
What is the ration at Newbridge?
As a matter of fact, I do not want to set the ration out in detail at the moment because it is in process of variation. I have brought one whole day's ration for a man and that is in my office now for the inspection of any Deputy who wants to satisfy himself that it is, in fact, full and adequate.
That is not the point. What I want is to ascertain the ration that is provided for those turf workers. We are surely entitled to some information on that point, seeing that the scheme is a Government scheme. The Minister quoted the ration for me recently. He appeared to be in possession of all the information about the tation. If he could quote the ration for me privately, surely the Parliamentary Secretary ought to be able to give me the information I require now?
I am prepared to do more. I am prepared to allow the actual ration to be inspected.
The Parliamentary Secretary may have the ration for himself. What I want at the moment is to get some information as to what the ration really is. What is the difficulty about getting that information? A Parliamentary question is all that is required to get information as to what the ration for a soldier is. If a Minister is in a position to produce information with regard to the ration of turf workers, why is it not possible for a Deputy to get information on the same subject?
I take it that the Minister gave information about the ration to the Deputy confidentially. I am not prepared at the moment to publish that particular information, because, as I have said, the ration is in a state of change. That, I think, is a good reason.
Is this ration provided at the taxpayers' expense?
Of course.
Then what right has the Parliamentary Secretary to withhold the information?
Do I understand that the Parliamentary Secretary wants us to go to see the ration?
I go further. I invite any Deputy in the House who so desires to have breakfast at 7.15, lunch on the bog and dinner at 6 o'clock at Newbridge camp in order that he may satisfy himself in relation to this matter.
Must we go on our bicycles, or will there be petrol supplied for the journey?
There is the alternative of walking there.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary in some way convey information to Deputies as to the precise ration?
At the moment, no.
When does he hope to have the ration available?
The ration is available for inspection at the present moment.
What is the use of the Parliamentary Secretary carrying on with this type of buffoonery here?
Is that a Parliamentary expression?
Emphatically no.
In view of the difficulty of travelling and the number of Deputies who may be anxious to see this ration, would there be any difficulty in bringing the ration down here, and making it available for inspection, say, in the dining-room?
It is in my office at the moment and, if it is the desire of the House that it be transferred to the dining-room, I shall do that with very great pleasure.