(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if Bord Fáilte furnished him with a viewpoint on the tourism potential of Wood Quay; if the board made any recommendations to him regarding the future use and development of the site; if so, if he will give particulars of the board's views and recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wood Quay Site.
18.
I receive submissions from, and have discussions with Bord Fáilte on a continuing basis on all aspects of tourism. The Deputy will appreciate, however, that in dealings with all the State-sponsored bodies associated with my Department there is a constant two-way flow of discussion, correspondence and reportage. These exchanges would not be of any value unless they were quite free and uninhibited and those essential qualities can be assured only on the basis that the content of the exchanges is not made public.
(Cavan-Monaghan): May I take it from the Minister's reply that he has received representations or a point of view from Bord Fáilte on the tourism potential of Wood Quay but that he is not prepared to disclose that to the House?
I feel I ought to be free to have an interchange with any of the State bodies under the aegis of my Department without having to go into detail on parliamentary questions.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Has the Minister passed on the representations which obviously he received to his colleague, the Minister for Finance or the Minister of State at that Department, Deputy Wyse?
The Deputy is inferring that obviously I received something of which he has no knowledge.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Does the Minister agree that any views held by Bord Fáilte on the Wood Quay site would be of great importance in coming to a decision in relation to that site?
I have given the Deputy my reply, in that it would be very inhibiting if I were to disclose any information here in relation to the discussions I have had and correspondence I have received from any of the State bodies.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I accept that, but I am asking the Minister if he passed on any information which he received from Bord Fáilte to his colleague, the Minister for Finance or his Minister of State. Is the Minister aware that I was told in a reply to a question I put down to that Minister that he had received no representations?
I have given the Deputy all the information I can give.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I am asking the Minister now to make known those representations, if he has any, and, if he has not any, he should say so. If he has any, certainly he should make them available to the Board of Works.
Did I hear the Minister correctly to say that discussions are still going on between his Department and Bord Fáilte?
Discussions are always going on with Bord Fáilte.
About Wood Quay?
I did not refer to Wood Quay in my reply.
The question refers to it. Might I ask the Minister if discussions in relation to the tourism implications or potential of Wood Quay were held recently between his Department and Bord Fáilte?
That is a separate question.
The Minister admitted that he did not refer to it in his reply.
This is the same question framed in a different way. I have given my answer to the question put down by Deputy Fitzpatrick.
For the sake of the record of the House would the Minister be good enough to clarify whether or not he has indicated that discussions on the tourism potential of the Wood Quay site are going on between his Department and Bord Fáilte?
I have already replied to that question and I am not saying anything further on it.
The Minister has answered that question which is the one on the Order Paper.
Might I draw the attention of the Chair to the fact that the Minister has said that he did not refer to Wood Quay at all in his reply, and that is what is in the question. Can we take it that, for some reason, the Minister is afraid to answer the question? Why will the Minister not answer the question on the Wood Quay site?
The Minister is not afraid to answer any question. I have answered the question put down by Deputy Fitzpatrick in a manner which I think is proper.
In view of the fact that we received no answer at all, I wish to seek your permission to raise this matter on the adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
(Cavan-Monaghan): May I seek permission also to raise the matter on the adjournment?
I will communicate with the Deputy.