asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the present position of the trade agreement made with the British Government on April 25th, 1938; whether, if its provisions were suspended during the emergency, he will state the conditions governing the suspension and the instrument in which they are set out; whether notice of the intention to terminate the agreement was given by either party under Article 19 thereof before the expiration of the three months' period mentioned in that article; and whether it is the intention of the Government to revive or revise the agreement in the near future or at all; and what steps, if any, are in contemplation to give practical effect of the intention expressed in Articles 5, 8, 9, 10, 13 and 16 of the said agreement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trade Agreement With British Government.
Notice of the termination of the trade agreement between the British and Irish Governments made in April, 1938, has not been given by either Government. The emergency conditions changed the whole aspect of international trade, and it will probably be a considerable time before conditions become sufficiently normal to allow this agreement to be revised or a new agreement negotiated.
I wonder would it be too much to ask the Taoiseach to lay on the Table the terms of the secret agreement that exists between himself and Mr. Churchill?
That has nothing to do with this question.
It has.
It is a blackguardly statement.
It is not.
This is a question addressed to one Minister and on it no other Minister may be questioned.
Let the Deputy offer his services to the Irish Times. They will be glad to avail of them.
The Deputy will not. We have a new weapon now for the Presidential election.
The Deputy will resume his seat.
In my opinion the Deputy's attitude is beneath contempt.