andMr. G. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Local Government if he will arrange for the immediate payment of house loans to Irish steel workers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Steel Workers' House Loans.
45.
As I indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 83 of the 13th February, 1975, a formal agreement between the National Building Agency and the EEC Commission is required to secure the release of the loan funds already approved in principle. Normally this agreement is drawn up by the Commission, but to expedite matters the agency undertook the drafting of the agreement for submission to the Commission for approval. I understand that the agency expect to have the draft agreement, which by its nature is a legal and complex matter, finalised at an early date.
Arising from the Minister's reply and what might be called a serial story at this stage, is the Minister aware that a group of people in Irish Steel Holdings in Haulbowline have been messed around by his Department and by the Department of Finance for two years while we are told legal details are being sorted out in order to give them what is rightly theirs under EEC regulations? Would the Minister now direct that the bridging loans paid to them and the interest on them be borne by the agency under his Department, which is mainly responsible for the feet dragging?
The position is that I met some of these people last week-end and they did not make the complaint made by the Deputy. They said they were disappointed that they had not got their money before now and I am also disappointed about it. However, it is only fair to the NBA and to them to point out that the regulations are that the EEC draw up the agreements. We did everything we could to get them to draw up the agreements but we did not succeed because they said they were over-worked. We then agreed the NBA would do so and we are now trying to get agreement on the final text of the document with the EEC. As soon as that matter is cleared, which I hope will be in the next few weeks, payments will be made. It is untrue to say the NBA or the Government have been dragging their feet. They have been doing everything they could to get the matter cleared.
Has the Minister on his file information on when these applications were made for the loans, when the NBA——
These are separate questions.
They are all related. Will the Minister state when the NBA were appointed as the agency and when they took over——
I have told the Deputy these are separate questions.
They are all relevant.
Deputies on all sides are telling the Chair what is relevant. It appears the Chair is not able to tell anyone what is relevant.
I submit my questions are relevant to the question on the Order Paper.
The question on the Order Paper concerns the immediate payment of house loans.
Will the Minister state when the NBA took over from the EEC the negotiating of the conclusion of the agreements?
The loan was approved in principle by the Commission on 20th December, 1973 and until some months ago the EEC told us it was necessary for them to prepare the documents. When we found the documents were not coming we asked if we could prepare them and eventually they agreed we could do that. We are now getting final agreement on them. The Deputy is not doing any good either to his blood pressure or to the people concerned by raising this matter in the way he has done.
Did the Minister——
I am calling Question No. 46. The Chair has been liberal in the matter of supplementaries.
Did the Minister convey to the people in Cork that they should keep away from the Opposition Deputies——
No.
——in order not to embarrass his Department or himself?
I will issue a challenge to Deputy Fitzgerald to give me in confidence the name of the person who said that because it is a lie. It is untrue.
It is not a lie.
(Interruptions.)
I did not do it and I am not responsible for anyone else. The Deputy should stick to the truth if he can.
I will ask the Chair to call on the Minister to withdraw the word "lie".
I am sorry. I should not have said it was a lie. It is an untruth.
If the Minister reads what I said he will see what is my accusation. I will be able to substantiate it.
I would like if the Deputy would substantiate it. There is no use in talking if he cannot put it down in black and white. If the Deputy does this, I will publicly show that I did not at any time make the suggestion.
I am asking the Minister to read the accusation I made.
I heard it, I do not need to read it.