asked the Minister for Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the reported statement made by the Minister for Justice at a Fianna Fáil meeting in Carrick-on-Shannon on 3rd April that the local government elections will not be held until June 1967; if this is so; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for this postponement.

44.

asked the Minister for Local Government when it is proposed to hold the local elections.

45.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he has now decided when the local elections will be held; and the reason for the delay in making a decision.

46.

asked the Minister for Local Government whether or not a Government decision has been taken not to hold the local elections this year.

I propose with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 43, 44, 45 and 46 together.

I intend to ask the House shortly for leave to introduce a Bill to postpone until June, 1967, the local elections due to be held this year, and to make consequential provisions for the extension of the membership of existing members of local authorities, the holding of annual and quarterly meetings and other relevant matters.

As is customary, I shall give the reasons for my proposals when the Bill is moved for Second Reading.

Does the Minister not remember that on the last day on which the Dáil sat before the Easter Recess he promised to make an announcement about this before the Dáil resumed?

Yes.

Has the Minister any comment to make on the fact that the Minister for Justice made this announcement at some place in Roscommon?

No comment.

Would the Minister say why he did not, as he promised the House, himself announce whether or not the local elections would be held?

Because of the sort of controversy there has been about this for some time, I decided it would be better that it should be announced in the House.

Would the Minister not agree the Minister for Justice jumped the gun?

I have not any comment to make on that.

Is the Minister on speaking terms with his colleague?

Oh, yes.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, seeing he proposes to introduce legislation and give his reasons for the postponement of the local elections on the introduction of that legislation, will we have this legislation and the reasons before 1st June?

I very much doubt it.

I do, too.

Is there not only one reason? They are afraid to face the people.

(Cavan): Is it a fact that when this Government Minister goes to the constituency of Roscommon, he is allowed to say what he likes there? We remember the Minister's million letters a few years ago.

Check with your friends. You know who wrote it, do you not? So do I. Deputy Fitzpatrick got that cloaked up, did he not?

(Cavan): You had millions of them. The Minister and the Minister's colleague were damned glad to get it cloaked up.

No such thing.

(Cavan): I got several invitations to go to the Minister's Department to talk about it.

Not to me and not from me.

Could I ask a supplementary question to my Question?

No. I allowed three questions.

It is my question.

It is mine also.

Could I ask a supplementary question to my Question.

Further arising out of the Minister's reply——

Might I ask the reason for this continued contempt for the Dáil by the Ministers——

Deputy L'Estrange.

Further arising out of the Minister's reply, in view of the fact that the Fianna Fáil axe has fallen on the Garda Band, the FCA, agricultural credit, housing and health, does the Minister not think that the £100,000 could be much better spent on any of these than wasting it on a second election?

Question No. 47.

They are afraid to face the people.

The Government do not want two defeats on the one day. They got them in 1959. That is all that is wrong.

The Government are whistling past the graveyard.

You are on the way out, lads.

Question No. 47.

On a point of order, I should like to point out that Question No. 44 stands in my name and that the Ceann Comhairle would not allow me to talk. I have given notice of the question.

That does not give one the right to ask——

It is most unfair.