asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the number of heads of staff working for the Milk Costings Commission on 2nd June, 1954, and on 2nd July, 1954.

The technical director of the Milk Production Costs Committee, who is also the chairman of the committee, has the assistance of a staff which consisted of 13 persons on the 2nd June, 1954, and consisted of 12 persons on the 2nd July, 1954.

No supplementaries?

And no apologies for the untruths?

Does the Minister state that the same number of people were engaged on costings on the 2nd June as on the 2nd July, 1954?

What did the Deputy state?

In reply to the supplementary question of Deputy Walsh, I imagine the question put down by Deputy O'Reilly arises out of a statement by Deputy Walsh which was featured in the Irish Press of the 21st November that the milk staff was cut from 23 to two. I understand that it was suggested by Deputy Walsh in a statement made by him in public that a few days after he had left office, substantial reductions had been made of the character described. In fact, when he left office there were 13 persons working on this and immediately afterwards there were 12 persons. In July, there were 12 persons working on it and there are now at this present moment 12 persons working on the staff of this Costings Commission. Recently the director asked us for further clerical assistance and it was made available to him at once.

Has there been any change in the number of experts working on the Milk Costings Commission, or was there any change made in the number working on the Costings Commission from the 2nd June until the 2nd July 1954—the experts I am talking about?

All I know is that on the 2nd June, 1954, we had one agricultural inspector, six temporary costings officials, two drainage and reclamation supervisors (unestablished), and four temporary farm buildings supervisors. That was on the 2nd June, 1954. On the 2nd July, 1954, we had one agricultural inspector, five temporary costings officers, two drainage and reclamation supervisors and four temporary farm buildings supervisors. The staff at present employed—that is, as of to-day—24th November, 1955——

Let us say for the past week possibly.

The Deputy was guilty of a mental aberration on a public platform, which I am trying to correct as charitably as may be. The staff at present is one agricultural inspector, two temporary costings officers, one drainage and reclamation supervisor, four farm buildings supervisors and four clerical officers. That is all I have been asked for; and, any staff I have been asked for, I have provided. But that is a far different story from the suggestion that the staff was 23 on the day Deputy Walsh left office and was reduced, a month later, to two. I attribute that suggestion to no more evil intention on the part of Deputy Walsh than that he suffered a mental aberration on a public platform—it could happen to a bishop—but, thereafter, if Deputy Walsh were a sensible man, he would say he was sorry for his mistake and not try to brazen it out when it is demonstrated to him that he made a slight mistake.

I possibly will make a double effort to brazen it out. Arising out of the Minister's statement, is it true that it has taken 12 men over two years to compile the figures taken from 140 farms?

The Deputy set up the Costings Commission. I have not interfered with its operations, good, bad or indifferent, except to provide it with whatever staff it asked me to provide. But I have the greatest sympathy with the Deputy. He was launching out into the West Limerick by-election and doing the best he could for the Party. He put his foot in it and all I ask him is: Let him not put his foot in his own mouth now.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, he stated that recently he had been asked for an increase in staff; his answer was that the staff is now 12 as against 12 some date back in 1954. What number was he asked for recently, and on what date, to bring the staff up to the 12, the 1954 figure, that it is now back to? What had it fallen to before he was asked for the staff and how many did he supply immediately on demand?

I was asked for four clerical officers, and I provided them within 24 hours of being asked, about two months ago.

So it was eight two months ago then?

Yes, but at no stage was it 23 and at no stage was it two.

The Deputy has given himself away very, very badly.

Question No. 4.

Did he add before that——

Order!

Let Deputy Aiken ask his supplementary because he is putting his foot in it now.

And it is a bigger foot.

I would like to know——

Question No. 4.