asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he has seen the report in the Press of the 19th February, 1951, that the Tánaiste announced that every purchaser of turf should refuse to take wet turf from a turf seller or a merchant and that his refusal would be supported by the Government by every means at its disposal and, if so, if he will state whether the Department of Industry and Commerce will prosecute people at present selling wet turf and if not, what action will be taken; also if he will indicate where dry turf is available to purchasers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Wet Turf.
The Tánaiste was, of course, referring to next season's turf and his intention was to indicate that the best safeguard of the consuming public regarding turf, as well as other commodities, was to refuse to accept inferior quality. I have no powers to prosecute people who sell wet turf nor do I think that such powers are necessary. As regards the last part of the question I would remind the Deputy that there is no control over the distribution of turf.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary tell us what is meant by the support of the Government in securing dry turf for the people?
Sit down.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that no turf is available except turf which has been lying out in all sorts of weather for the past three and a half years because of the attitude of the present Government in regard to turf and because of its refusal to encourage turf cutting?
I understand that there are adequate supplies of fuel in Cork City—one supply was obtained through the good offices of Deputy Sheehan.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that a Fine Gael councillor brought in two old age pensioners to the Cork Corporation— a Fine Gael councillor who was a candidate at the last election—to show the stuff that was being given by the Minister for Social Welfare at 1/- a cwt.?
Does the Parliamentary Secretary wish to convey to the House that the Government cannot wring this turf dry in the same way as they are wringing the country dry?