asked the Minister for the Environment the number of breathanalyser kits bought by or on behalf of the Gardaí since the beginning of the year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Breathanalyser Kits.
8.
I understand from the Medical Bureau of Road Safety that the number purchased to date is 10,000.
Can the Minister give an indication of a comparison between that figure and the figure for the corresponding period last year?
I have not the figure for last year but the figure of 10,000——
Is that the total number to date?
The question referred to the number bought since the beginning of the year. Therefore, the figure given is the figure to date from the beginning of the year. Since these items can be used only once the figure will be much greater next year. The cost involved was £4,896 but the Garda estimate that the cost for next year will be of the order of £36,000.
Could the Minister say what number of breathanalyser kits will be represented by the £38,000 next year?
That is a separate question.
Assuming that the cost does not increase too much, the present figure of 10,000 could be multiplied by seven.
That is 70,000.
According to my calculations.
9.
asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the energy crisis and the urgent need for fuel conservation, a unilateral ban will now be placed on the use of the nine inch cavity blocks for external walls in all new houses and domestic buildings, due to their low heat value.
I have no present intention of introducing such a ban. The present position is that from the 1 July 1979 all grant-aided houses will be required to achieve a U Value of 1.10 or better for all external walls. This performance requirement can be achieved with the use of nine inch cavity or hollow blocks provided sufficient insulating material is included in the construction of the wall.
The draft building regulations also specify a U Value of 1.10 for external walls of new houses but it is left to the builder to determine the manner and materials he will use to reach this standard.
With regard to local authority housing, nine inch cavity or hollow blocks are not generally used in the construction of external walls.
I feel that the setting of a minimum standard of insulation for external walls, as I have done in the case of grant-aided houses and as is set out in the draft building regulations, while leaving the builders the freedom to use whichever materials they choose, is the best procedure for improving the standard of insulation in houses.
The Minister will agree that I asked this question about two years ago and that he gave me the same answer then, and that approximately 10,000 to 12,000 houses of that standard have been built since he became Minister for the Environment. I have two questions for the Minister. Does he talk to the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy?
Yes.
Does he listen to what he says?
Yes.
That is two questions.
In the interests of those who have the misfortune to live in houses which he has sanctioned as Minister for the Environment, will the Minister now do something about the matter and ban what everybody agrees is a bad building practice—the use of the cavity block—irrespective of the insulation standards proposed? It is generally conceded——
No arguments, please.
There is no argument with the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy.
An inter-Departmental committee are looking at the matter. For the Deputy's information, the position in regard to the building regulations in the UK is the same, not that we should copy everything they do.
Is the Minister suggesting that what is good enough for Britain is good enough for us?
No.
Would the Minister consider adding to the existing grant an amount which would encourage everybody to insulate their houses?
The nine inch hollow cavity block can be dealt with during construction.
I am not talking about that.
10.
asked the Minister for the Environment the total cost incurred in the advertising by his Department for the European elections.
At the European Assembly elections responsibility for advertising and the giving of various public notices rested with the returning officers and the local returning officers. Full details of the costs incurred by them are not yet available, but it may be taken that the expenditure was not less than £50,000. This was supplemented by a limited advertising campaign at central level by my Department at a cost of £6,500 approximately.
How much of the cost will be paid by the State and how much of it will be paid by the EEC? Was any of the slush money of £7.7 million devoted to this purpose?
The slush money is not involved. It all comes out of central funds.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
Has the Minister got details of the breakdown of that figure for the local returning officers?
I have not got the details.
As I said, all details of the costs incurred by them are not yet available. When details are available I will give them to whomever wants them.
Would the Minister not accept that exceptional difficulties were caused by the postal dispute, and can he say if provision was made by his Department to allay the confusion that existed because many people did not receive voting cards?
Yes.
Could the Minister identify the action taken?
Advertising in national newspapers and on television.
Was it £6,000 worth of advertising?
No.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
11.
asked the Minister for the Environment the total amount of money he has allocated to publicise the referenda on the sixth and seventh Amendments to the Constitution and the steps he is taking to encourage people to vote in this referendum.
The Government have allocated a sum of £40,000 to the referendum returning officer for the purpose of informing voters of matters relating to the referenda. The referendum returning officer is undertaking a publicity campaign involving advertising on radio and television and in national and provincial newspapers. Deputies will, no doubt, have already seen the first advertisements. Further steps to inform voters at local level are being taken by local returning officers.
With regard to the question of encouraging people to vote, I would refer the Deputy to the Taoiseach's statement in the House on Tuesday last of the Government's plans in this regard.
I know the House appreciates the importance of these two constitutional amendments and I appeal to Deputies to play their part in ensuring the maximum voter turnout and that the amendments will be approved by the people on Thursday next.
In the context of the Taoiseach's statement to the House on Tuesday last, could the Minister explain why the Government Information Service have not undertaken a publicity campaign prior to the issuing of the postal votes for the referenda? Is the Minister aware that this publicity campaign will be completed after the public have voted by postal vote?
I cannot answer for the Government Information Service.
In his reply the Minister referred to the arrangements which have been made. Is it correct to say that the number of leaflets relating to the referenda amount to 4,500 per Deputy? If that is so, does the Minister accept that that figure is an indication of lack of Government interest as there is not sufficient literature for each voter in the average constituency?
Questions on these matters were answered during the week.
(Cavan-Monaghan): How many returning officers are there?
That is a separate question.
(Cavan-Monaghan): It is not a separate question. I am entitled to ask questions.
The Deputy seems to think that he has a licence to compel the Chair to accept his questions.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Chair is not being fair.
The Deputy has made that accusation before. The Chair will not be dictated to. The number of returning officers does not relate to the question.
(Cavan-Monaghan): It does. I am asking the Minister how many returning officers there are in this country?
The Deputy should give notice of that question.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minster obviously has the information in his brief.
That is no reason why he should answer a question if it is not relevant.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Why, what is wrong with the question?
It is not in order. If I am to permit everybody to ask any question relating to the elections we can spend the whole of Question Time that way. I have permitted more than the average number of supplementary questions to elicit information.
(Cavan-Monaghan): In regard to Bundoran, when you let it go on for about ten minutes because Deputy Blaney was asking the questions—
There are other questions. The Deputy need not drag in analogies.
(Interruptions.)
(Cavan-Monaghan): It is an absolute disgrace and the Chair should be ashamed.
It is only on a county basis.
Could the Minister state the number of leaflets issued in relation to this campaign and say whether there are no more than 4,500 of them available to each Deputy?
I can neither confirm nor deny what the Deputy says.
Would the Minister not consider it reasonable to be able to provide the answer in the context of the particular question?
No.
What is the purpose of asking a question of this nature unless we can get that kind of information.
Could the Minister even at this late stage in conjunction with the Government and the Opposition do something to elucidate what this is all about because with the elections that have just passed it is fairly evident that the public are practically unaware even that there is a referendum on July 5?
I understand this question was answered during the week.
It has been answered but has anything been done?
It is being done on radio and television. Programmes are being put on to elucidate the position.
Far too few.
The Taoiseach told us on Tuesday that leaflets would be available to Dáil Deputies on Thursday to take home to their constituencies. Where are they at present? Is the Minister aware that the majority of Deputies have gone home? Are these leaflets available in Dáil Éireann now for Deputies to take home?
I know there are leaflets available at 13 Mount Street today.
A Deputy
Very smart.
I am not being smart. Are these the leaflets referred to?
Are we to understand they are only available at Fianna Fáil headquarters?
I am not talking about the leaflets the Deputy is talking about, therefore.
The Government Information Service leaflets.
I shall try to find out and help the Deputies but it has nothing to do with this question.
(Interruptions.)
(Cavan-Monaghan): On a point of order, I have no objection to this question being answered but my question was much more relevant and it was ruled out of order. It is nothing short of disgraceful discrimination and I want to register a protest about the way I am being treated in this House.
Might I ask the Minister, along the same lines as Deputy Blaney, to elucidate what these things are about? Would the Minister agree that when the Government decided to have both measures dealt with on the one day the importance of the adoption referendum was being relegated to that of one where there were political connotations? Does he think it consistent with the deep concern people have——
I am calling Question No. 12.
This House passed the necessary legislation to have the two held on the one day.
Surely the Minister would agree that it was not in keeping with high principles to link the changing of the Constitution to deal with an adoption problem to something that was a political problem?
That is purely argument.
(Interruptions.)
Was the Minister present on Tuesday morning when the Taoiseach said that leaflets would be available for Deputies to take home?
I will check the position in regard to those leaflets.
Was the Minister present when the Taoiseach said that leaflets would be available to Deputies to take home on Thursday evening? If the Minister was present and if the Taoiseach is the Leader of the House does the Minister not think it is a bit smart and too clever to say that they are available in Fianna Fáil headquarters? It is unworthy of this House and the Minister is letting himself down.
No, I said there were leaflets available.
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 12.
Do these leaflets deal with Amendment No. 6 or Amendment No. 7?
The two Amendments.