asked the Minister for Finance if he will make available moneys for coastal protection work in the Dooey and Rossapenna areas of County Donegal; and if he is aware of the severe coastal erosion which is taking place there.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Coast Protection.
38.
A proposal for coast protection works at Rossapenna has been received by the Commissioners of Public Works from the Donegal County Council. It has not yet been investigated.
No proposal for works at Dooey has been received.
I did not hear the reply of the Parliamentary Secretary.
The Deputies on the other side of the House are making such a racket——
Surely the Parliamentary Secretary should extend the courtesy of waiting until other people have finished before he gives a reply?
It is a matter for the Fine Gael Party, not for me, as to whether or not they continue this barrage of interruptions.
Deputy Norton does not belong to the Fine Gael Party.
Might I ask is the Parliamentary Secretary prepared to provide money for these works?
I will read the reply again.
He should and, if he had simple manners, there would be no need.
A proposal for coast protection works at Rossapenna has been received by the Commissioners for Public Works from the Donegal County Council. It has not yet been investigated. No proposal for works at Dooey has been received.
When the Minister says it has not been investigated, who has been neglectful?
It is not a question of neglect. It is a question of the order of priority in which the Donegal County Council put the various works they recommended for attention. Rosspenna was No. 4. Other schemes in Donegal are being investigated.
This is a serious matter. Property is involved here. Is the Parliamentary Secretary now telling us that, because it is No. 4 on the priority list, that is the only reason why money is not being provided? Is money being provided for No. 2 and No. 3?
There are a great many coast protection jobs to be done, not alone in Donegal but right around the cost, and there must be some order of priority. These priorities have been determined by Donegal County Council and Rossapenna has not been placed any higher up than fourth by that local authority.
The Parliamentary Secretary tells us one thing and the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries goes to Downings and tells us another thing.
Question No. 39.
(Interruptions.)
Would Deputy Harte please behave himself?
The Parliamentary Secretary makes a statement here and the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries goes down to Donegal and makes a different one.
That is untrue and I would ask the Deputy to withdraw that, unless he has some proof for it. There is no divergence in the statements I make in Donegal and the statements I make elsewhere. Let the Deputy put his cards on the table now.
The Minister is now saying that what he said in Donegal is untrue.
Would Deputy Harte please resume his seat?
Deputy Harte should be asked to withdraw his remark.
Deputies
Why?
Because it is untrue.
The Chair cannot ask Deputy Harte to withdraw such a remark. It is a political charge.
How can the Deputy's attributing a remark to me be a political charge when, in fact, such a remark was not made by me? I want it to be quite clear to the House that I did not make the remark and I do not care whether it is a political charge, or otherwise, but it is not something that should be allowed to be perpetrated by Deputy Harte, when he likes.
These charges have been made all down the years. The Chair has no function in the matter.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.