asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is making any representations to the West German Government to ensure the implementation of the agreement reached between Germany and the Irish Livestock Trade, the Irish Fresh Meat Exporters' Society along with Irish Government officials in Hamburg on 2nd and 3rd June that Germany would import the equivalent of 800 cattle a week in the period from 15th June to 15th July, 1961.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Exports to West Germany.
9.
The answer to the question is "Yes".
Will the Minister elaborate on that answer? I regard the reply as insufficient. I put down Question No. 9 to elicit information from the Minister and he has confined his answer to one word: "Yes". I feel sure he will elaborate.
I did so only because I dealt with a similar question yesterday. The Deputy, perhaps, was not present. He will see by the Press reports of the replies to the question and supplementary questions addressed to me that I covered the field adequately. That is why I did not feel it necessary to do so on this occasion.
If, as the Minister states, he covered the field adequately, will he give me information as to whether or not it is correct to say the German Government have repudiated this agreement?
I did not say so yesterday.
Will the Minister say they have not, today?
I will not.
Have they honoured their agreement? The Germans ran out on their word.
Am I to assume that the Minister does not know whether the German Government have repudiated the agreement or not?
I do know that in carrying out discussions on a subject like this, as I said yesterday in reply to Deputy Lynch, it is a great mistake to make accusations in excess of the facts. I say the same thing today.
Are Deputies not entitled to ask questions of the appropriate Minister?
They are. The Germans did run out on their word.
This is not nationally helpful.
Nationally helpful? We buy £10 millions worth of their goods and they buy only £2 millions worth from us and we are entitled to dictate to them. If you bought fewer Mercedes cars from them, they might be nicer to you.
Deputy Lynch wants to lose his temper.
It is the Minister who makes me lose my temper.