andMr. Molloy asked the Minister for Health the total value of foreign manufactured goods purchased in 1975 through Irish agents by his Department and any State-sponsored bodies under his control, excluding goods not manufactured in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foreign Goods Purchases.
5.
The information sought is not available in my Department and could not be provided without extensive research which would prove both time-consuming and expensive. I would not feel justified in initiating such action.
On a point of order, we could not hear the Minister because of our friend at the back. Would you ask the Minister to repeat the answer?
There is a request that the answer be repeated.
Certain homes in the categories referred to by the Deputy——
On a point of order. Are we to be treated with absolute contempt on this side of the House? We did not hear the Minister's reply because of the Baluba intervention.
Could I ask Deputies not to waste precious time at Question Time? Could we have the reply to Question No. 5?
The information sought is not available in my Department and could not be provided without extensive research which would prove both time-consuming and expensive. I would not feel justified in initiating such action.
In view of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply to Deputy Andrews would the Minister think it advisable, in the interests of employment to carry out such a review and have such information available in every Government Department? Will the Minister take steps within his own Department to try and find out the necessary information, in other words, to prevent it?
I said I could not justify initiating such an action. The Deputy must appreciate that to engage in such action with all the health boards, voluntary hospitals and the other agencies, would be time-consuming. The Deputy is also aware that as far as purchases by the health boards and voluntary hospitals are concerned they are confined to a large extent to the combined purchasing list, 98 per cent of the goods on which are made in Ireland.
Is the Minister admitting that this is going on to such an extent, that it is so widespread——
It is not widespread. As far as the question is concerned, have any of the Deputies any evidence to the effect that British or foreign made goods were purchased over the last 12 months? If there is any such evidence I will have it investigated, but I am not going to carry out a survey over the health services because they are bound by statute to buy from the combined purchasing list.
If I give the Minister an assurance that his reply is wrong and that there is widespread purchasing within his Department from abroad will he have that investigated?
I do not accept that assurance. If a Deputy gives me any evidence that health boards have bought outside the combined purchasing list I will investigate that.
I did not say health boards; I said projects under the Minister's control.
If the Deputy was to carry out a similar survey in his own house it would take him a number of weeks.