asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the reasons for the delay in the publication of the annual reports of the Dairy Disposal Company for 1970 and 1971.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dairy Disposal Company Reports.
38.
The report for 1970 will shortly be ready for presentation to both Houses of the Oireachtas. Some delay has occurred due to pressure of work. The report for 1971 has not yet reached my Department.
Could the Minister give any explanation for this disgracefully long delay in presenting the report of a body who are responsible to this House and are supposed to report to this House?
As I said in my reply, it is due to pressure of work on the officials concerned in the Department who would normally be dealing with the presentation of this report to the Government and to the Oireachtas.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary tell me if this is a matter for the officials of the Department or for the officials of the Dairy Disposal Company? Can I take it from the reply that the Department have already received a copy of this document?
I have said that they have not received a copy of the 1971 report. I am dealing with the delay in the presentation of the 1970 report to the Houses of the Oireachtas and to the Government and I have said that occurred because of the officials in my Department being overworked at that period as they would be the ones involved in the presentation of the report to the Government and to the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Why are the officials of the Department involved? Surely this is a matter directly between the Dairy Disposal Company and this House and they should report to this House and not to the Department?
It is the presentation of the report.
That is just a matter of printing.
The remaining Questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.