asked the Minister for the Gaeltacht whether any member or members of the Board of Gaeltarra Éireann have been purchasing tweed from Gaeltarra Éireann; and, if so, whether the purchases were at wholesale prices and the reason therefor.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tweed Purchases from Gaeltarra Éireann.
43.
Ós rud é gur eolas ar mhionchúrsa trádála atá an Teachta á iarraidh níor iarr mé ar an mBord é.
Am I to understand that the Minister did not go to the trouble of asking the Board, in order to get the reply to this question, as to whether or not the Board is selling tweed to members of the Board at wholesale prices, and would he not regard it as a proper thing to do once the allegation is implied in a Parliamentary Question?
Ba mhaith liom a rá nár iarr mé ar an mBord an t-eolas seo i ngeall gur bhreannuí me air mar mionchúrsa tráchtála de chuid an Bhuird. Tá bainnt ag dhá Rialtais leis an cheist seo—an ceann seo agus an ceann roimhe—a chuir an Comhairle seo ar bun, agus tá mé a rá anois nach bhfuil mé ag cur isteach annseo ar an mBord Stiúrú.
Is the Minister saying this semi-State body was set up with the authority of not alone this Government but the one preceding it, and that it is so constituted that it cannot be asked about irregularities?
Níor iarr mé an t-eolas atá an Teachta ag iarraidh anois, ach tá mé indon a rá go h-uadarásach anois nár díoladh aon stuif de chuid Gaeltarra Éireann faoin praghas atá uadaráite ag an mBord.
Is the Minister not aware that the Board has sold tweed to its northern member and that in fact that tweed, with other commodities, was peddled through this country——
That is entirely a separate question.
Will the Taoiseach not agree that it is normal commercial practice that shareholders in a company are told of any transactions that arise between the directors and the company and that in relation to Gaeltarra Éireann members of this House are equivalent to shareholders and that when transactions arise between the directors, this House has a right to know?
And it will know. The same questions will be asked again next week and the week after.