asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will consider issuing a special stamp early in the month of March of each year to commemorate Saint Patrick's Day.

As the Deputy is, no doubt, aware, St. Patrick already figures prominently in our postage stamps. He is depicted in the highest denominations of the permanent series, and in addition the air mail stamps of that series have as their theme the flight of the angel Victor, messenger to St. Patrick, carrying the voice of Ireland over the world.

The number of special stamps that can be brought out in any year is very limited and the Deputy's suggestion would, therefore, greatly reduce the possibility of meeting other claims for commemorative stamps.

For these reasons, I am unable to consider the suggestion favourably.