asked the Taoiseach the total acreage under tillage (a) in 1954 and (b) in 1967; and the reason for any decline.

The total acreage under tillage in June, 1954, was 1,808,200 statute acres and in June, 1967 it was 1,302,200 statute acres.

With your permission, Sir, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement showing the acreage under the principal crops in these years.

ACREAGES under the principal crops, June 1954 and 1967.

The Parliamentary Secretary has not given the reason for the decline. There has been a decline of roughly 500,000 acres in the amount of tillage, despite the fact that Fianna Fáil claim to be the tillage Party.

Better husbandry, I would say myself——

Where?

——better production methods, better seeds, more fertilisers.

Question No. 6.

The Parliamentary Secretary has not answered the question.

I am doing my best to answer it now.

I did not hear it because the Ceann Comhairle called the next question. The Parliamentary Secretary has not given the reason for the decline.

The Deputy kept on interrupting me. Did he not do the same thing last night when the Minister for Local Government was speaking?

I would not dare to interrupt the Minister for Local Government. It was he who interrupted other Deputies. He made a disgrace of himself.

Order.