asked the Minister for Education the precise functions of the comprehensive school as envisaged by his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Functions of Comprehensive Schools.
37.
The information requested by the Deputy was given to the House on 5th and 6th February, 1964, and is contained in columns 497 to 510 of the Official Report, Volume 207.
Surely the Minister is aware that I was not in the House on that occasion.
I believe the Deputy is quite capable of reading and I do not want to inflict on the House again the lengthy details involved. I suggest the Deputy has been treated with courtesy in being referred specifically to where the information is available.
I can assure the Minister I am capable of reading, despite his Department's carry-on in the past few years. I respectfully suggest that the Minister should reply in a proper manner to a Deputy who had not occasion to be in this House when the information was given.
Surely a copy of the earlier reply could be sent to the Deputy?
I do not want to be taken as accepting the implication that the Deputy has not been treated with courtesy. I think the Deputy has been treated with ample courtesy in accordance with precedents long established in this House. If the Deputy is new to the House and does not like the practice, he might consult with some of his colleagues to find out what the practice is and not come in here and imply that he is treated with discourtesy when, in fact, he is not.
The Minister ought to deal with it with a little more calmness.