asked the Minister for Finance the arrangements made for the official opening of Cahir Castle, County Tipperary; and if he will give the names of all the people invited to the function.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Tipperary Castle.
20.
Cahir Castle was formally opened to the public by me on 28th June, 1971——
——of the agricultural industry will be included in the successor body to the NIEC?
No invitations to the function were issued. Certain people were notified of the event in advance.
(Interruptions.)
Will the Chair restrain the Parliamentary Secretary and allow Question Time to continue?
If the Deputy wishes to have a list of those notified I will be happy to let him have it.
How can it continue with all the interruptions?
I am obeying the Chair.
I want to ask a supplementary question on Question No. 19.
If everybody obeyed the Chair we could get on with the business.
The Parliamentary Secretary does not always obey authority.
This used to be a Parliament before certain people came into it.
A Cheann Comhairle, I want to ask the Parliamentary Secretary a supplementary on Question No. 19.
It is not usual to go back on questions.
We are not going back. I was speaking consistently at the time when the Parliamentary Secretary went on to the next question. I was on my feet asking the question.
The next question was called.
I called Question No. 20.
This is a brief and serious supplementary question.
The Chair called the next question. Let us get down to some procedure here.
I should like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary if it is now intended to include representatives of the agricultural industry in the reformed successor body to the NIEC.
Question No. 21.
My instructions are that I am to make no announcement on the matter.
Why answer questions at all then?
I have called Question No. 21.
The Dáil and Seanad will be informed in due course.
When?
(Interruptions.)
On a point of order, it must have been clear to you, Sir, and to the House that the Parliamentary Secretary could not be heard replying to my Question No. 20. As a matter of courtesy, I think he should be asked to repeat that reply.
I am quite willing to do that. Cahir Castle was formally opened to the public by me on 28th June, 1971. No invitations to the function were issued. Certain people were notified of the event in advance. If the Deputy wishes to have a list of those notified I will be happy to let him have it.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary tell the House why he bungled so badly an official opening which could and should have been a very good occasion for the people of Cahir and the surrounding district, and why he should not have extended the usual courtesies on this occasion to the public representatives in the area?
Deputy Treacy was notified of this meeting.
I was notified but I was not invited.
Nobody was invited. So far as possible now official receptions are not being proceeded with except in matters of international importance.
The Fianna Fáil people get to them however it happens. They are all there.
There was no reception, if that is what the Deputy is worried about.
Tacateers and people who subscribed £100 are always at these functions.
Question No. 21.
Small men smoking big cigars.
The Deputy has a great imagination.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that his action on this occasion caused deep resentment amongst a large number of people in the area? Because he performed this task in such a mean and shabby fashion there is a great deal of dissatisfaction amongst the people.