asked the Taoiseach if he will state the composition of the inter-departmental committee which has been established to "advise" the Parliamentary Secretary to the Government in relation to the relief of unemployment and emigration in the Gaeltacht and western seaboard areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gaeltacht and Western Seaboard Areas.
The inter-departmental committee established by the Government to advise and assist the Parliamentary Secretary to the Government in regard to the direction and co-ordination of efforts towards the economic and social development of the Gaeltacht and congested areas comprises representatives of the following Departments and branches of administration:—
Oifig na Gaeltachta agus na gCeantar gCúng, the Department of Lands, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Industry and Commerce, the Special Employment Schemes Office, the Department of Local Government, the Department of Education, the Department of Finance and any other Department or branch of administration that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Government may, from time to time, consider it desirable to have represented on the committee for particular purposes or on particular occasions.
asked the Taoiseach whether it is a fact that all proposals made by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Government to relieve unemployment and emigration in the Gaeltacht and western seaboard areas must first be submitted to an inter-departmental committee before being considered by the Government.
There is no question of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Government submitting proposals to any inter-departmental committee in the sense of requiring the approval or sanction of any such committee for his proposals. The function of the inter-departmental committee to which the Deputy evidently refers is to assist the Parliamentary Secretary, and only such matters as the Parliamentary Secretary decides are referred to the committee, for their advice or assistance. It is for the Parliamentary Secretary himself to consider how far he should accept any opinions that may be expressed by members of the committee or by the committee as a whole.
I take it that the Tánaiste is aware that last week in reply to a similar question he informed the House that the function of the committee was to advise and assist the Parliamentary Secretary?
Yes, but not in the legal sense; in the sense in which any organisation of officials has the function of advising and assisting the Minister.
May the Parliamentary Secretary put forward a proposal to the Government without its first passing through this inter-departmental committee?
I think he would be wise to seek the advice of the committee on the proposal, but there is no obligation on him to do so.
Mr. O'Donovan will probably advise him.
asked the Taoiseach whether it is proposed to give the Parliamentary Secretary to the Government any direct powers or to make available to him any moneys to enable him to take steps to remedy unemployment and emigration in the Gaeltacht and western seaboard areas.
As was indicated by the Tánaiste in reply to a supplementary question on the matter in this House last Wednesday, any moneys required to implement the Government's proposals in the matter will be provided, subject to the necessary moneys being made available by the Dáil. As regards the powers of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Government as such, I would again emphasise that the main function of the Parliamentary Secretary's office is to facilitate and co-ordinate measures by other Departments of particular interest to Gaeltacht and congested areas for which the Ministers who have charge of those Departments will remain directly responsible.
I might take this opportunity of informing the Dáil that, on the 5th instant, the Government appointed Deputy Seán Ó Loingsigh, Parliamentary Secretary to the Government, to be also the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands, with duties relating to the administration of the Gaeltacht Services division of the Department of Lands.
asked the Taoiseach if he will state the number of proposals in relation to the relief of unemployment and emigration in the Gaeltacht and the western seaboard areas (a) made by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Government to the inter-departmental committee set up to "advise and assist" him; (b) the number of such proposals which have been sanctioned or approved by the inter-departmental committee; (c) the number of such proposals which have been considered and approved by the Government, and (d) the number of such proposals which have been implemented or are in course of implementation in respect of the County of Galway, the County of Kerry, the County of Donegal and the County of Mayo.
asked the Taoiseach if he will indicate the plans, if any, submitted by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Government to solve the Gaeltacht's problems.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
As I have made clear in my reply to Question No. 4, no proposals are made by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Government to the inter-departmental committee for the sanction or approval of that body.
In reply to a Dáil question on the 31st ultimo, the Tánaiste pointed out that, where proposals of the Parliamentary Secretary are approved by the Government, any necessary legislation to give effect to them will be submitted to the Oireachtas and, where legislation is not considered necessary, administrative directions will be given for putting the proposals into effect. I am not prepared to give any further information in regard to the Parliamentary Secretary's proposals, in advance of the decisions of the Government.
In the course of his reply to a question which I addressed, in another connection, to my predecessor on the 18th July, 1950, Deputy Costello, as Taoiseach, stated that—
"the internal arrangements which may be made by Ministers for discussion among themselves are essentially a domestic matter and no concern of Parliament or the public."
The submission of proposals to the Government is an internal and domestic matter in as full a sense as the particular matter with which the reply from which I have quoted was concerned. I accepted the principle stated by the then Taoiseach on that occasion, and I consider that it would not be proper or in the public interest to establish a practice by which particulars of matters submitted to the Government could be elicited by questions in this House.
The Tánaiste has not replied to the last portion of my question in which I asked for the number of proposals put forward by the Parliamentary Secretary which had been implemented or would be implemented in the future. I take it there is no secret about that matter. If the Parliamentary Secretary has made any proposals that are accepted or will be accepted, they should be publicised.
They will be.
Does the Tánaiste refuse to give information to the House on that subject?
No. The publication of any decisions of the Government on matters of that kind must be timed by the Government and they will be published when the necessary steps to give effect to them have been completed. In so far as these decisions may involve legislation, they will in due course be published in the form of Bills presented to the Dáil.
There will be no more Tullamore bombshells.
Arising out of the Tánaiste's reply, the last portion of my question asks for the number of such proposals which are being implemented. Are there any proposals being implemented or is this merely a face-saving device?
May I take it that the complete refusal to answer the question is an indication that no scheme or plan has as yet been submitted by the Parliamentary Secretary?
The Deputy can hold his hat and watch.
I do not wear a hat; you talk through one.
The position is that I am not prepared to give to the Dáil information on matters which are still under consideration by the Government. The Government's decision will be promulgated in due course.
Just before the general election.
The last portion of my question asks the number of such proposals which have been implemented or are in course of implementation. Surely the House is entitled to have that information.
The answer is there are no proposals.
Wait and see.
That is the answer. Another car to organise with.
Of course it is.