den Aire Airgeadais an mbeadh sé sásta deontas faoi leith a thabhairt do na páipéir nuachta náisiúnta a bheadh sásta méid áirithe de Ghaeilge shimplí a fhoilsiú sna nuachtáin laethiúla gach lá.

Tá scéim againn cheana faoina bhféadfadh nauchtáin deontais a thuilleamh trí nuacht reatha i nGaeilge a fhoilsiú go rialta.

A Cheann Comhairle——

Why did he put his name in English to this question?

Order.

So that the Deputy would know who he was.

Can the Ceann Comhairle say if it is in order to answer in Irish a question which has been asked in English? I asked a question in English last week and it was answered in Irish.

It has been the practice in this House to answer questions in Irish.

When they were asked in English? My question was not in relation to the Gaeltacht.

Irish is the official language.

I thought we had two official languages.

And 32 counties is the official State. Cod.

Ní raibh deis agam mo cheist a chur. Ag eirí as freagra an Rúnaí Pharlaiminte an bhféadfadh sé a rá cén deontas atá le fáil?

Tá thuas teorann £21 in aghaidh na seachtaine leis an deontas faoin scéim.

Ag eirí a thuilleadh as freagra an Rúnaí Pharlaiminte an féidir leis a rá ar chuir aon cheann de na phaipéirí naisiúnta isteach ar an deontas seo agus, munar chuir, an féidir leis aon rud a dhéanamh chun iad a mhelladh chuige?

Tá an-bhlas ag an Teachta.

Níor ghlac na nuachtáin laethúla leis an scéim. Cuireadh fógra faoin scéim chuchu go léir ach ní rabhthas ag súil le iarratas uathu. Ghlac cuid de na nuachtáin áitiúla ar fud na tíre leis agus tá an deontas ar fáil acu — cuir i gcás, Leinster Leader, Derry People, Mayo News, Connacht Telegraph agus Dungarvan Observer.

Why was that question addressed to the Minister for Finance not answered either by the Minister for Finance or the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance, both of whom are present?

It is a matter for the Government to answer questions in what way they like.

If it is convenient.

Or not to answer them at all in most cases.

If the question is addressed to the wrong Minister or if the Government wish it to be answered by somebody else——

We have collective responsibility.

Collective responsibility. That is a good one.

——should this not be indicated on the Order Paper?

This question has not been addressed to the wrong Minister. The Minister for Finance is also the Minister for the Gaeltacht.

These are two different Departments. The same man may hold both posts but the question is addressed to him in his capacity as Minister for Finance. Why was it not answered by the Minister or his Parliamentary Secretary?

A footling point— typical.

He was not able to answer it.

Would Deputy FitzGerald?

Any Minister can answer for any other Minister, present or absent.

Has this happened before?

The Parliamentary Secretary is here. Do not be finicky. There was a very full answer given and that is what the House wants.

I would not have received a full answer from the Parliamentary Secretary, is that the case?

We can get any Minister we like to answer.

The Deputy is making a fuss about nothing. There was just some minor mistake in the printing of the Order Paper.

Did the Taoiseach ask the Minister to give that explanation just now?