asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will state in relation to the Banagher-Clara Córas Iompair Éireann line the total freight carried in each of the past six years differentiating between incoming and outgoing tonnage.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clara-Banagher Branch Line.
Mr. O'Higgins
Mr. O'Higgins
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of persons employed by Córas Iompair Éireann whole-time on the Clara-Banagher branch line.
Mr. O'Higgins
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state in relation to the Córas Iompair Éireann branch line from Clara to Banagher the items of cost and expenses charged against revenue from the line.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 7, 8 and 9 together.
An application by Córas Iompair Éireann for an Order authorising the permanent discontinuance of train services on the Clara-Banagher branch line is at present before the transport tribunal and, as the Deputy is aware, under the Transport Act of 1950, the consideration and determination of the matter rest entirely with the tribunal. I have no function in relation to the application. I assume that all information relative to the application, desired by the tribunal, will be made available by the board.
If the Minister objects to and protests against, as he has done quite recently here, the chairman or executive officers of Córas Iompair Éireann giving information of this kind direct to Deputies why does he refuse to give the information himself to Deputies here? Are we entitled to it at all?
By deliberate act of the Deputies opposite the Minister has now no function in deciding questions of this kind. That is the way you want it and that is the way you are going to have it.
That is a good joke!
Mr. O'Higgins
Is it correct, as I am informed it is, that the Minister has already given the information sought in these three questions to a body outside this House?
Of course he has given the information.
The Deputy should make his question more specific.
Mr. O'Higgins
I understand the Minister has already given this information to representatives of the unions involved in the proposed closing down of the line.
I certainly have not given them any information.
Mr. O'Higgins
I understand that some of the officials of the Minister's Department have done so.
No. Córas Iompair Éireann may have done so.
Mr. O'Higgins
I understand the information was given in the Minister's own Department, in Kildare Street.
If that information was supplied to anybody it was supplied by Córas Iompair Éireann and Córas Iompair Éireann supplied it to the tribunal also.
Did you not object to Córas Iompair Éireann giving such information even to Deputies? Ask Deputy Burke and Deputy Gallagher about that.