asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he can state in respect of Laoighis and Offaly (a) the number of applications received under the land rehabilitation project; (b) the number of such applications already dealt with, and (c) the amount of money spent on work under the project in each county.

I would refer the Deputy to replies to similar questions from Deputies Cogan and Collins on the 21st February.

On a point of order. I proposed to put a supplementary question to the Minister arising out of his reply to the last question. The Minister devoted over ten minutes of the time of this House to a declamatory statement, winding it up with an attack upon some persons unknown, with whom he seems to be at variance.

About corned "beuf"?

And, if I may say so, quite unjustly, by implication, accused Deputy Alfred Byrne of being in collusion with these gentlemen.

What is the point of order?

I am putting it to you, Sir, is a Deputy not entitled to put supplementary questions to a Minister who used the time of the House in that fashion?

The Chair is the judge of the number of supplementaries that may be allowed. Three supplementaries were allowed.

It would be fair, then, to members of the Opposition, or of the House generally, if the Minister's reply were kept within the bounds of order.

That is not a point of order.