Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Retail Prices.Thursday, 23 July 1970 |
Dáil Eireann Debate
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Mr. L'Estrange:
asked the Taoiseach the national average retail price at the latest available date; the prices for February, 1957, and the percentage increase for each item since then.
Mr. Andrews:
With your permission, Sir, I propose to circulate in the Official Report——
Mr. L'Estrange:
Question No. 2 was not finished.
Mr. Andrews:
——a statement giving the national average retail prices for mid-May, 1970, for the principal food items included in the consumer price index——
Dr. O'Connell:
I cannot hear Deputy Andrews. He is mumbling.
Mr. Andrews:
——together with percentage changes since February, 1957, for certain individual food items and the major non-food groups.
Mr. L'Estrange:
We did not get an answer to Question No. 2.
Mr. Andrews:
In the case of items, other than the principal food items, no attempt is made to obtain quotations for an identical quality——
[1885]Dr. O'Connell:
I cannot hear the Parliamentary Secretary. He is mumbling.
Mr. Andrews:
——of the different articles in all areas and, therefore, any average prices——
Mr. L'Estrange:
A Cheann Comhairle, we got no answer to Question No. 2.
Mr. Andrews:
——computed would not be meaningful. The correctness of the relative price changes is ensured by the fact that at each source——
Dr. O'Connell:
I cannot hear one word the Parliamentary Secretary is saying. He is showing contempt for the House.
Mr. Andrews:
——the identical article is priced at successive inquiries.
Mr. L'Estrange:
I asked the value of the £ at the latest available date. That is Question No. 2.
Mr. Andrews:
In introducing the present consumer price index in November, 1968, changes were made in the list of items priced——
Mr. Cluskey:
On a point of order.
Mr. L'Estrange:
On a point of order.
Mr. Andrews:
——and in the set of retail outlets from which price quotations are collected.
Mr. Cluskey:
On a point of order.
Mr. Andrews:
As a consequence it is not possible to give comparable national average retail prices for food items for February, 1957, but percentage changes for a number of food items can be derived by linking the two series. In the case of non-food items where the revision was more extensive percentage changes have been compiled only for broad groups.
Mr. L'Estrange:
On a point of order, in answering Question No. 2 the Parliamentary Secretary went as far as 1957 only and did not give the figure for the latest available date. I rose immediately to query this and he has kept speaking since. He did not give the figure for the latest available date [1886] because I took down each list of figures. He did not give it.
Mr. Andrews:
I said that £1 in 1970 related to the last figure I have here in the reply. I said £1 would purchase the same as 12s in 1957. Is not that right? One pound in 1970 would purchase that in 1957. That is the point. Now, Sir, do I have to repeat the answer to Question No. 3?
An Ceann Comhairle:
Question No. 3 has been answered.
Dr. FitzGerald:
Before there were any interruptions I could not hear the Parliamentary Secretary.
Mr. Cluskey:
On a point of order.
An Ceann Comhairle:
Deputy Cluskey on a point of order.
Mr. Andrews:
With respect, Sir, possibly I am too high up for this.
Mr. Cluskey:
Will the Parliamentary Secretary recognise the fact that I have risen on a point of order and have been recognised by the Chair?
Mr. Andrews:
Is the Deputy telling me to sit down?
Mr. Cluskey:
I am telling the Parliamentary Secretary to obey the Chair.
Mr. Andrews:
The Chair has not said anything to me.
Mr. Cluskey:
On a point of order, could the Chair point out to the Parliamentary Secretary that he is attempting to treat the Opposition with the utmost contempt by his mumbling into his answer paper and that, if he persists in this, the Chair will have to take appropriate action.
An Ceann Comhairle:
That is not a point of order.
Mr. Cluskey:
If the Chair does not take appropriate action the Opposition certainly will.
An Ceann Comhairle:
That is not a point of order.
Dr. O'Connell:
Will the Taoiseach ensure that the Parliamentary Secretary——
[1887]The Taoiseach:
If you stayed quite you would hear him.
Mr. L'Estrange:
Could we have an answer to Question No 2?
An Ceann Comhairle:
Question No. 4.
Mr. Andrews:
I would like to reject the threat by Deputy Cluskey to me. It was a clear threat.
Mr. Cluskey:
It was a promise, not a threat.
Mr. Andrews:
I totally reject it.
Dr. FitzGerald:
Could we now have the answer to Question No. 3 which we could not hear?
An Ceann Comhairle:
I understand the Parliamentary Secretary has replied to Question No. 3.
Dr. FitzGerald:
There is trouble in this House every day because people on the other side read either too quickly or too low. All the interruptions do not necessarily come from this side of the House. When we say we cannot hear the answer, they read on and then say they have answered the question. This is an improper procedure. If we cannot hear when we try hard to do so, we must be given the answer again.
Mr. Lemass:
You do not listen.
Mr. Andrews:
I have already replied to Question No. 3.
Dr. O'Connell:
We cannot hear him because he mumbles.
Mr. Andrews:
You see, you will not let me reply. I replied to it and, during the course of my reply, there were many interruptions.
Mr. Cluskey:
On points of order.
Mr. Andrews:
Which were not points of order.
An Ceann Comhairle:
Question No. 4.
Dr. FitzGerald:
May I again ask for an answer to Question No. 3?
An Ceann Comhairle:
The Deputy should not interrupt. I have called Question No. 4.
[1888]Dr. FitzGerald:
Are we not entitled to hear the answers to questions in this House?
An Ceann Comhairle:
That is not a matter for the Chair. If Deputies cannot hear there is nothing the Chair can do about it.
Mr. Lemass:
Sit down and listen.
Dr. FitzGerald:
A Cheann Comhairle, points of order were raised and, before you had a chance to rule on whether they were points of order, the Parliamentary Secretary continued speaking in contempt of the Chair.
Mr. Andrews:
That is not true.
Dr. FitzGerald:
In those circumstances we should not be deprived of the answer.
Mr. Andrews:
That is not true.
Dr. FitzGerald:
There was an actual protest against his refusal to let the Chair be heard.
Mr. Andrews:
That is not true.
An Ceann Comhairle:
I called Question No. 4 and I would ask Deputies to listen to the reply.
Mr. Clinton:
Perhaps there is a difficulty that is not appreciated. Deputy Andrews is very tall and he is a mile over the microphone. Really it is impossible to hear him reading with his head down.
Dr. FitzGerald:
He spoke in a low monotone.
An Ceann Comhairle:
We cannot debate his height.
Mr. Andrews:
I do not think that is the real problem. The problem is that when I am answering my questions the Opposition have a desperate habit of interrupting. That is the real truth of the matter. They will hear me if they listen to me.
Mr. Andrews:
Following is the statement referred to in the answer to Question No. 3.
[1889](a) National average retail prices of principal articles of food at mid-May, 1970.
*These average retail prices include turnover tax.
[1890](b) Percentage change in the price of certain individual food items and major groups of non-food items entering into the Consumer Price Index between mid-Feb. 1957 and mid-May 1970.
*As quotations are not obtained for an identical quality for each price reported national average prices for these items are not meaningful and have not been included in (a) above.
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