asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that appellants against increased rateable valuations in Dublin city are being informed that their appeals will not be determined until January-February, 1969; that rates will be payable on the increased valuations in the interim; and that this creates hardship in certain cases; and if he will introduce legislation to provide for determination of appeals within a maximum period of six months.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Revision of Valuations.
24.
No communication of the nature indicated by the Deputy was issued by or with the authority of the Commissioner of Valuation. I am informed by the Commissioner that the prospect is that his decisions may be published at a much earlier date, perhaps in August, 1968.
I do not propose to introduce legislation on the lines suggested by the Deputy. Appeals are determined as speedily as is possible having regard to the time required to investigate complaints and inspect properties where necessary. Generally, the Commissioner succeeds in having his appeal decisions ready for publication before the second moiety of rates falls due. It is unlikely that hardship will be created in any case, and I am satisfied that under the present system of dealing with these appeals there will be no avoidable hardship.
25.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state, with reference to a reply of 20th March that for the future he does not propose to deal with questions appropriate to the local authorities about matters of detail in relation to the revision of valuation, whether his statutory position in this matter has changed; if so, in what respects; and, if not, on what grounds he proposes to discontinue furnishing information of this kind in view of its considerable importance to the public.
The statutory position in the matter of revision of valuation has not changed.
The publication of particulars of properties listed for revision of valuation and of the consequent revised valuations is the statutory responsibility of the respective local authorities, to whom appropriate enquiries should be addressed. The questions with which I do not propose to deal are those which request information which has already been made public by the local authorities in discharge of their statutory obligations.
Is the Minister aware that there was a question of mine placed under consideration in respect of information which has not been made public by the Commissioners of Valuation, a simple question of statistics, and this was disallowed by the Ceann Comhairle on the ground that the Minister was no longer accepting such questions? Is this not a curtailment of the rights of Deputies which is greatly to be deplored? The Minister is departing from the time-honoured precedent laid down since the time the State was established?
I do not agree.
In this matter I am somewhat in the hands of the Chair. The Chair was compelled to disallow the question asking for reasonable information which I put down a fortnight ago. Can this matter be referred to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges which is charged with custody of the rights of private Deputies? I am being deprived of information to which I am entitled, Sir. I am in your hands.
I think the Chair has already explained to the Deputy why the question was disallowed. It would be wrong to say that the Chair was compelled to disallow the question. The Chair disallowed the question because the Minister had no responsibility in the matter.
The Minister's predecessors considered themselves as having responsibility for supplying this information in the public interest to public representatives here in Dáil Éireann. The Minister is departing from precedent and I want to know why. I think that is a reasonable discharge of parliamentary function.
I had nothing to do with the Chair disallowing the question: I did not even know about it. As I understand the position the publication of this information is a statutory responsibility of the local authority and not of the Minister.
On a point of order, may we not assume that if a conflict arises between a Minister's concept of his obligation to answer a question and a Deputy's concept of his right to ask a question, that is a matter which could be, with your approval, referred to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges for consideration and decision, in the light of which decision you can subsequently rule?
The Deputy's suggestion would be feasible.
I should be obliged if the Chair would refer this matter to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
Any Member may do so: it is not just a matter for the Chair to do it.
I am placing myself in your hands.