asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost to the State of increasing all social welfare benefits by 50 per cent.

The annual cost to the State of increasing by 50 per cent the current rates of payment under all social insurance and assistance schemes administered by my Department is estimated at £13,350,000.

Does Deputy Burke think that is too much?

No. I suppose the Minister is aware that the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party recently voted against an increase in social services benefits?

The Minister has no responsibility for that.

Is the Minister aware that Deputy Norton, who cries so much about it, voted against any increase, and so did all the geniuses on the back benches?

The Deputy will resume his seat. The Deputy is not asking a supplementary question. Question No. 61.

Is the Minister for Social Welfare aware——

The Balbriggan widow must be in a desperate state today.

——that Deputy Dillon is going to give all these services without any increase in taxation?

Order. I have called Question No. 61.

I am aware that Deputy Dillon sees nothing incongruous in promising greatly increased expenditure and greatly reduced collection of revenue at the same time.

I have ruled that question out of order. I have called Question No. 61.

The Balbriggan widow's influence is spreading down into the Front Bench. She is a very remarkable woman.

The Front Bench on the Government side is going left and the back benchers are going right. That is what one might call a mixum-gatherum Government.