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Dáil Éireann - Volume 283 - 02 July, 1975 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Statistics. Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons 11. Dr. Gibbons asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if agricultural statistics relating to the EEC, such as production, consumption, import and export figures, are available to him and his Department; and, if so, the circumstances under which and the manner in which he acquires them. Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton 322 Mr. Clinton: Comprehensive agricultural statistics of the kind referred to by the Deputy relating to member [322] States and to the Community as a whole are published periodically by the statistical office of the European Communities in Luxembourg. Copies of these publications are acquired regularly by my Department in the normal way. Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons: Will the Minister and his Department make this information available to Deputies if they write to the Department, or at Question Time in this House? Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton: Whatever information there is is in the Library. Most of these publications are available in the Library. Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons: Will the Minister make that information available to Deputies at Question Time. Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton: The usual thing for a Minister to say is that the Deputy can get the information in the Library. Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons: Will the Minister make this information available to Deputies in the House if they put down questions? Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton: It might not be possible, without giving answers a mile long on some of these matters, to give the information a Deputy might be seeking. Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons: Could the Minister give reasonable information on questions? Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton: I am anxious to give the maximum amount of information to Deputies at all times. Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons: Through questions? Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton: Yes, through questions. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: Question No. 12. Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons: Would the Minister not agree—in view of what has been said already in reply to other questions and in view also of the supplementary question Deputy Callanan posed, that it is a very important function of the Minister in the House to make information available. Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton: Yes. Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons 323 [323] Dr. Gibbons: The Minister will agree, it is probably through Question Time and looking up reports that many organisations get this detailed information and that it is a much more important exercise than the Minister seems to appreciate at present? Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton: I have not so far refused any Deputy any information available to me. Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons: Would the Minister convey that to the Ceann Comhairle's office? Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton: I am not criticising the Ceann Comhairle. I find I get the greatest co-operation from him. Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons: Of course, the Minister does. Is the Minister aware that the Ceann Comhairle has refused to allow questions of mine to the Minister —for statistical information—on the basis that the Minister has no responsibility therefor? Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton: I am quite sure that what the Ceann Comhairle is doing is following precedent over the years in the Chair. Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons Dr. Gibbons: Would the Minister agree it is time to change this precedent now that we are in the EEC? Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton: I am quite sure that if that is changed the Ceann Comhairle will change also. Mr. Callanan Mr. Callanan Mr. Callanan: With regard to the question posed by Deputy Dr. Gibbons about information, is there a lot of this information available yet, or are they merely commencing to compile such information? Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton: No, it is available; it is in the Library but some of it is of a very technical nature and quite difficult to follow. Mr. Callanan Mr. Callanan Mr. Callanan: As far as consumption is concerned, I doubt if there is much information available. I am claiming that in Brussels not sufficient of this has been done. That is the question I put to the Minister a short while ago and he agreed with me that they are only commencing to do so. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy 324 [324] An Ceann Comhairle: Question No. 12. Mr. Callanan Mr. Callanan Mr. Callanan: These are facts. Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton Mr. Clinton: I am not sure that the Deputy is correct in that. Dáil Éireann 283 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. Agricultural Statistics. Questions 19750702
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