asked the Minister for Finance the purpose to which the funds were put which were paid out of the Northern Relief Fund at the request of the former Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Northern Relief Fund.
13.
As indicated in my reply to a question by the Deputy on 12th November, 1970, these funds were made available for the relief of distress in Northern Ireland. The money was sent direct to responsible persons in the areas involved. The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be advisable for me to mention either the names of the persons or the areas involved.
Can the Minister say why, if the money was used for genuine relief purposes, there should be any problem about mentioning names?
If the Deputy does not understand that he does not understand anything about what is going on.
(Interruptions.)
(Cavan): Arising out of the Minister's reply and his reply to Question No. 11, I understood him to say there would be a more appropriate occasion for discussing matters like the subject of Question No. 11 and presumably the subject matter of this question in the near future. Would the Minister like to elaborate and say when that occasion will be?
I have indicated to the House, and I think the Taoiseach has also done so, that as soon as certain inquiries which are going on at the moment are completed an opportunity will be given to the House to decide what procedure it wishes to follow in regard to this whole matter. I anticipate that that stage will be reached very shortly.
Could the Minister indicate at what stage?
Will the Minister say whether an opportunity will be afforded the House to consider it or the Public Accounts Committee?
I anticipate it will be the Public Accounts Committee——
Of course.
——but if the House wishes to take another course that would be another matter for the House.
(Interruptions.)
That is not what I envisage at all, it will be very shortly.
Before the Ard-Fheis?
(Cavan): Does the Minister mean that it is the intention of the Taoiseach or the Government to bring this matter before the House by way of a discussion or motion to enable the House to decide what action they want taken?
The Deputy is not to take that from what I have said.
(Cavan): What am I to take?
The Deputy can take what I have said and wait until it happens. He can take another course then if he does not like what is suggested.
Shall we have a statement from the Taoiseach on this?
(Interruptions.)
The Taoiseach has indicated this to the House already.
Indicated what?
What I have indicated.
The Minister has not indicated anything specific.
I think it is quite clear.
If the House is to decide what action is to be taken, will it first be furnished with a full statement in writing of the information available?
I should think that very unlikely.
If we are not given the information, how can we decide what action to take?
The Minister for Lands——
I have asked a supplementary question.
The Deputy need not imagine that he can put supplementary question after question. It is a matter for the Chair how many questions are put, not for the Deputy.
This is my question and I am trying to get in on it at this stage. Could I also ask the Minister, in reference to the publication of the names of relief organisations in Northern Ireland, if he will be prepared to furnish them or whether he will make the information available privately to the leader of the Opposition?
(Interruptions.)
That is a separate question. The Minister for Lands, Question No. 14.
The Minister has not answered the question.
It is a separate question. It does not arise from the question on the Order Paper.
It arises directly, unlike the other supplementary questions.
(Interruptions.)
Would the Deputy please control himself and sit down? This is a matter for the Chair. I am calling the Minister for Lands.
I give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment in that case.