asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the position with regard to the establishment of a national semi-autonomous body to co-ordinate the work of the research and advisory service with strong farmer representation on the controlling board.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Advisory Services.
4.
I am not prepared at this stage to say whether my proposals for the re-organisation of the agricultural advisory services will or will not be on the lines suggested in the question. What I can say is that my proposals are fairly well advanced and that I hope to be in a position to announce the Government's intention in the matter in the reasonably near future.
I gather from the Parliamentary Secretary's reply that he is not prepared to say what are his proposals. Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell us why he is not prepared to give the House any information on this matter, one of great concern to many people in the country.
A little louder, if the Parliamentary Secretary could, please.
The Minister's proposals for the reorganisation of the advisory services are being considered by Departments and the Minister will make an announcement at the earliest possible date.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that employees of State boards and others seemingly know what is in the documents that are being circulated and are able to talk freely about them whereas Members of this House are not being given any information at all? That situation is wrong; we should know what is going on. If others know what is going on, we should know.
The Minister will make an announcement when he has finalised his proposals and that is the usual procedure.
I am sure the Parliamentary Secretary is aware that all sorts of rumours are going about as to what is in the White Paper. I believe that if the Minister came out and said what is in the White Paper——
A question, please, Deputy.
But rumours are all we have.
The Minister proposes making an announcement in the not too distant future as to what are his proposals. That is the usual procedure.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary tell us whether or not Members of this House will have information on this topic before members of voluntary organisations throughout the country?
I assume the Minister will make a general statement which will be available to the Members of this House and members of other organisations at the same time.
We shall have to pass on. I have allowed Deputy G. Collins a number of supplementary questions.
I understand the Chair's hurry to get through as many questions as possible but the Parliamentary Secretary has not answered my question.
The Deputy should not argue with the Chair. The Chair has no control over Ministers' or Parliamentary Secretaries' answers.
I would not like the Chair to think that Deputies such as I should not be given an opportunity to elicit all the information we can from the Parliamentary Secretary.
I have given Deputy G. Collins a lot of latitude. He ought not deal unfairly with the Chair in that regard.
I would like the Parliamentary Secretary to avail of this opportunity to give the House an assurance that details in this particular case will be made known to Members of this House before being made known to members of voluntary organisations throughout the country.
I assume the Minister will make a general statement in public, presumably in this House, and that that should measure up to Deputies' requirements. I do not see that there is any need for alarm so far as this matter is concerned.
There is every need for alarm and the Parliamentary Secretary is completely evading supplementary questions. Will we be told before voluntary organisations?
The Chair has called the next question.
When Fianna Fáil were in office what they used do was make announcements at cumann dinners.
(Interruptions.)
The Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary are well able to do that. Imagine agricultural statements in County Dublin constituencies.
Will the Chair please be obeyed and allow the Parliamentary Secretary to answer Question No. 5.