asked the Minister for Finance if he can give a firm date for the actual commencement of work on arterial drainage of the River Boyne.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - River Boyne Drainage.
12.
I cannot give a firm date for commencement of an arterial drainage scheme for the Boyne. As I stated in reply to a question on 9th February, it is hoped that the scheme will be ready in 1967 but as the project is a very big one many difficulties can arise and it is not possible to be definite. When the scheme is ready the various statutory requirements, including exhibition of the scheme locally and consideration of observations of interested parties, will have to be complied with.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say whether he has been in communication with the rural organisations in County Meath and whether he has informed them that it may be some years before the scheme is started?
Who has informed them?
The Parliamentary Secretary has.
The correct answer is as I have just stated.
Does that mean the Parliamentary Secretary is saying that the letter is not correct?
I know of no such communication.
If I pass it along to the Parliamentary Secretary, will he comment on it?
I know of no such communication.
The Parliamentary Secretary has been reported in the local Press as saying that it would be some years before the scheme was started.
I know that the Deputy has been announcing to the public for some time that the scheme has been abandoned, but that is not the case.
That is an untruth, and I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary to withdraw it.
The Deputy said it in my own hearing in Drogheda.
That is untrue. The Parliamentary Secretary should remember his office if he cannot remember his own statements.
The Deputy made that statement in Drogheda in my hearing and it is not correct.
The Parliamentary Secretary has made two untrue statements. I would call them lies only it would be unparliamentary.