asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will make a statement on the rescue package for the Irish fishing industry which has not been implemented.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishing Industry Rescue Package.
7.
I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on this matter in the very near future.
Can the Minister indicate what the rescue package will contain? I want to complain that the Minister did not take this opportunity to announce the package here. Indeed, I am surprised he did not.
Matters in relation to this have been finalised and I do not propose to give the details now. I expect to be in a position——
Will the Minister say if he will be holding a press conference in the next hour? There are people vitally concerned with the details of this package. They are in the House now and the Minister should have taken this opportunity——
A question, please.
Will the Minister tell us what is in it? Will he be meeting the press in less than an hour?
Yes, and I will tell the press. Deputy Daly is entitled to come along.
Would the Minister have announced this over the weekend if the question had been withdrawn and not left on the Order Paper——
Not correct.
Will this package help all of the fleet or only 20 per cent of it? Will the Minister refer to the repatriation of foreign loans? Will he give the House an opportunity to debate the package?
I will be glad to have it debated at an early stage.
Is it a matter of the Minister's hierarchical values that he will not give the details to the House but he will give them to the press in an hour?
I am amazed at the Deputy's reaction to this. It now seems to be considered almost a sin to say publicly what one has in mind.
But this is in public.
The Minister is missing the point. We have here an important question. The Minister has the information which we want. Could he give us even an indication of the headings of the rescue package? He will be telling everybody in less than an hour. Could he not tell us here? We are entitled to know.
I have arranged to make a public statement and that I will do. The Deputy will be aware of all the details which he requires in due course.
Handlers' rules.
In view of the fact that the coincidence has occurred that this question has been tabled on the same day as the Minister is making the announcement, would it not be a matter of common courtesy to supply the Members of the House who are interested with a copy of his statement?
What is the purpose of Question Time?
Has the Minister had any discussions with the Leader of the House in this matter, or is this an example of the open government which we are promised——
That is a separate question, Deputy.
—— when the present Government took office? Are we not going to be given the information? Is it the position that we do not count?
This is terrible.
Is this to give the Minister a chance to consult with Mr. Prendergast, or can he make up his own mind——
I am calling Question No. 8.
—— like the grants for the houses.