It is proposed to take No. 9 (Vote 20) on the Order Paper.
Order of Business.
Can the Taoiseach say, apart from the fact that national loans are now floated annually, if there is any substantial reason why the normal procedure of announcing the loan is now being discontinued?
I just thought it was not absolutely necessary to bring into Dáil Éireann the announcement of a national loan. It is a £20 million loan, and that, in comparison with our total capital budget, is not a great amount. This is a survival of an older age when national loans were much more important in relation to our total capital budget expenditure.
Surely as a matter of courtesy it should have been introduced here so that each side of the House would have an opportunity of wishing the loan success?
Could I ask the Taoiseach whether this is a repetition of what was done when the banks were asked to write up £25 million in their books a few months ago?
I do not know what the Deputy is talking about.
I am talking about the credit that was made available to the Government by the commercial banks, £25 million.
And we are spending it for the benefit of the people.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Ministerial reply to question No. 47, I should like to give notice of intention to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.