asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of industrial proposals submitted to An Foras Tionscal from West Cork, and the number (a) approved, (b) awaiting a decision and (c) rejected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - West Cork Industrial Proposals.
40.
The Undeveloped Areas Act, 1952, and the Industrial Grants Act, 1959, provide for the submission by An Foras Tionscal of an annual report to be presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas, and I have indicated in reply to previous questions that I do not think it desirable that An Foras Tionscal should be asked to furnish information other than that included in the annual report or in advance of publication of the report.
Are the reasons for the Minister's reply that these State-sponsored bodies should work under a kind of secret cloak and that they are not responsible to this House for any information——
That is a separate question.
It is the finance provided by this House which keeps them going.
I am only answering for An Foras Tionscal. I think there is good reason for what is in my answer.
It is the same with all State-sponsored bodies. They are not responsible to the House for their activities.
Order! Question No. 41.