asked the Minister for Local Government the cost of providing parking meters which it is proposed to install in Dublin streets; and the total number to be installed.

39.

asked the Minister for Local Government if any estimate has been made of the total revenue likely to be provided by parking meters in the first year of operation.

I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take questions Nos. 38 and 39 together.

These are matters in the first instance for Dublin Corporation. The corporation have not yet furnished me with details of the proposals, and, indeed, there are no proposals before me.

I want to say that the ruling of the Chair in this matter is wrong. I want to challenge the ruling of the Chair. I think it is most unfair that I should be denied the right to ask supplementary questions, that, in fact, I should be denied the right to hear what the answer was.

That is not the problem of the Chair. The Deputy was interrupting when the Minister was speaking.

No, he calculatedly and deliberately spoke in an undertone so that nobody could hear, as he often does, to show the depths of his abysmal ignorance in this House.

Question No. 40.

On a point of order — in view of the fact that Deputy Dunne was on his feet asking a supplementary question to his question, surely it is unfair that the following question should be called by the Chair while the Deputy was still standing up? If the Chair thought the Deputy was wrong he should have asked him to sit down before allowing the Minister to commence the next answer.

We were on the following question when Deputy Dunne rose to ask a question on the preceding one.

I am sorry to disagree but that is not correct. Deputy Dunne did not sit down at all.

It is correct.

I say that the Chair is conniving with the Minister to deprive Deputies of the right to ask supplementary questions.

Would the Deputy restrain himself?

I will not restrain myself. I am entitled to get an answer to a supplementary question. What does the Chair think this House is for?

It is absolutely impossible to be restrained with this Minister riding roughshod over the House.

Aided by the Chair.

The Deputy should not make these foolish charges.

They are not foolish charges.

I cannot hear both Deputies speaking together.

(Cavan): Might I respectfully suggest that this trouble has arisen on Question No. 35 because there was considerable talk going on when the Minister was answering and the Minister could not be heard? On a point of order, I respectfully suggest that the Minister should not proceed, and the Chair should not allow him to proceed until he can be heard.

The Deputy is indicating that I should allow the disorder to go on.

(Cavan): I am submitting, with respect, that it is the duty of the Chair to preserve order and not to allow a Minister to answer a question when obviously he cannot be heard.

Question No. 40.

I was waiting until the Chair had finished talking to ask a supplementary question. I had to wait until the Chair was finished.

I shall allow Deputy O'Connell to put his question.

Thank you.

Meanwhile, of course, the Chair has succeeded in stifling and killing my right to ask a supplementary question.

The Deputy stifled his own opportunity by interrupting.

I did no such thing. Obviously the Chair is in a conspiracy with the Minister to gallop through questions regardless of the rights of Deputies. The important thing seems to be to get through.

The Deputy should not try to monopolise Question Time.

I am going to assert my rights to talk here as an elected representative.

So are we all.

I should like to ask the Minister if he would now state the number of parking meters and the cost. I did not hear him. May I ask him to repeat it?

I have already informed the Deputies that these are matters in the first instance for Dublin Corporation. The corporation have not yet furnished me with details of its proposals and, indeed, there are no proposals before me.

40.

asked the Minister for Local Government whether the views of interest groups such as traders' organisations or those of the general public were sought prior to the provision of parking meters in Dublin city.

The Deputy appears to misunderstand the position. The requirements of the Road Traffic Acts must be complied with before the corporation is in a posittion to provide parking meters. If and when the Commissioner of the Garda, after consultation with the corporation, seeks my consent to making the relevant bye-laws, it will be my responsibility as Minister to consider any representations which the corporation may make to me. It is to be assumed that the corporation, in making any such representations, will have regard to the general interests of the community.

Will the Minister indicate if it is the Garda authorities who have the final say in matters of this kind?

No, the Minister has.

And before the Minister it is the Garda authorities, and the corporation may simply recommend but have no power?

The Garda Commissioner consults with the corporation.

But the corporation have no power.

The corporation presumably can initiate this in consultation with the Commissioner of the Garda but it is the Garda Commissioner who makes the recommendation and seeks my consent.

Could Dublin Corporation refuse to have them installed?

If the Garda Commissioner seeks my consent and gets it the Garda Commissioner makes the regulation.

Surely the Minister is not saying that the Garda Commissioner can recommend that any type of building or instrument be erected under the local authority and at the same time that the local authority have no right in the matter at all? Is the Minister saying that?

The preparation of bye-laws with regard to parking meters is a matter for the Commissioner of the Garda. They will make the regulations, with my consent, after consultation with the local authorities.