asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state the number of acquisitions by Bord na Móna of bog or land in County Mayo for which the purchase price has not yet been paid to the vendor, and the date on which possession was taken by Bord na Móna.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment for Mayo Bog.
43.
The information sought in this question deals with the day to day administration of Bord na Móna and is, therefore, a matter in which enquiry might be made direct to Bord na Móna by the Deputy.
Does the Minister say he will not ask for the information from Bord na Móna or is it the position that Bord na Móna will not give the information to him?
It is a matter of day-to-day administration concerning a number of private transactions. I can assure the Deputy there is nothing irregular and nothing which need cause him any disquiet or anxiety.
It is an extraordinary state of affairs that the Minister will not give us quite ordinary information about the ordinary dealings of a State-sponsored body like Bord na Móna. These bodies come to us for money and, if the information is not forthcoming, the money may not be forthcoming either.
Is it not a fact that this position has arisen because the functions of the Minister for Transport and Power have not been clearly defined? The Minister is consequently only a public relations officer in this House, a robot without authority.
That is a separate question.