asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether it is his intention to arrange for the reopening of the Banteer-Newmarket railway line, the Cork-Macroom line and other lines that were closed down in County Cork in recent years.

The question of branch railway lines will receive urgent consideration when the new transport authority has been established in accordance with the recent decision of the Government. In the meanwhile I would not feel justified in pressing for the reopening of any branch line which is now closed.

Will the Minister say what he means by pressing for the reopening of any branch line? Is it not a fact that Córas Iompair Éireann is under a statutory obligation to run services on these lines unless exempted from that obligation by the Minister? Am I right in asserting that the reason there are not services on these lines is that the Minister has kept in force the Order which exempted Córas Iompair Éireann from their obligation?

It is true to say that Córas Iompair Éireann wanted to close down all branch lines. It is equally true to say that they could not have closed down the branch lines which have been closed down without the authority of the Minister.

That is not the question. Is it not a fact that Córas Iompair Éireann are bound by law to run services on these lines and would be obliged to provide these services tomorrow if the Minister repealed the Order exempting them from that obligation?

Yes.

Will the Minister say why he does not repeal the Order?

Will the Deputy tell us why he made the Order?

Because there was no coal. Is the Minister aware that the reason why the Order was made in 1947 was the coal scarcity which made it impossible for Córas Iompair Éireann to run even the full schedule of main line services?

There was a whole lot of coal in the Phoenix Park in 1947 and it is there still poisoning the fish.

There should be some restriction placed on the buffoonery of the Minister for Agriculture. I am asking if the Minister is aware that the Order was made because of fuel scarcity.

What about the coal in the Phoenix Park?

In view of the fact that the fuel scarcity no longer exists, is it not clear that the reason why the Order was made no longer prevails, that the decision to keep the Order in force must be for some reason other than that which prompted me to make it?

There are so many that the Ceann Comhairle would not allow me to outline them in reply to a supplementary question. I can assure the Deputy that the desire of the Government is to open all branch lines and not to close them.