asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what action is being taken by his Department to relieve those farmers in County Donegal who have a large stock of oats on hands and cannot get a market for them.

Arrangements have been made, are being made and will continue to be made to facilitate the purchase of all suitable oats on offer in accordance with the provisions of the oats prices support scheme.

Why did the Minister scuttle out of the country and leave the farmers in a mess?

Partly on account of the speech of Deputy Davern, but also on account of the speech made by Deputy Blaney to the following effect:—

"There is also the question of a market for oats. We had the promises almost a year ago of members of the Coalition Government of a good market and a good price. The promise was implemented before the by-election began for a short time of buying oats at 2/- a stone. I warned, during the by-election campaign, anyone who had oats to sell to sell them before polling day."

You ran away from Donegal and scuttled off to America like the cur you are and left the farmers in the mess you had created yourself.

The Deputy will withdraw the word "cur".

I will if it is the wish of the Chair.

Will the Minister please indicate what he says there is in what I said that is not now true?

I should like to inform the Minister that letters and documents should not be read at Question Time.

He had no right to read that.

I am reading an extract copied from a newspaper.

Quotations are not allowed.

I was asked the reason for the surfeit of oats in storage in County Donegal and recited Deputy Blaney's and Deputy Davern's speech.

The rats are leaving.

He ran out of Donegal, anyway.