asked the Taoiseach the cost of Christmas cards and greetings sent by him and his Parliamentary Secretary in 1970; if postage was provided free by his Department and, if so, the cost in each case; and the estimated cost of cards on order this year and if the cards would be sent free of charge.

2.

andMr. L'Estrange asked the Taoiseach the projected cost to the Exchequer during the financial year 1971-72 of the sending of Christmas cards by him and his Parliamentary Secretary.

3.

andMr. L'Estrange asked the Taoiseach the total number of hours during which civil servants were engaged in sending Christmas cards from him and his Parliamentary Secretary in 1970 and the projected corresponding number for 1971.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 2 and 3 together.

The figures of costs and estimates requested are set out in a tabular statement which I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate with the Official Report.

Postal charges on officially-provided cards are largely recouped to the Vote for the Department of Posts and Telegraphs on the basis of estimates prepared by that Department for all departmental correspondence issued. The estimated cost of postage is accordingly included in the figures of cost for the cards issued in 1970.

It is not possible to give particulars of Civil Service time involved.

Cards for my private use and for that of my Parliamentary Secretary are provided at our own expense; we also pay the postage on such cards.

The following is the statement:

Taoiseach's Christmas Cards.

Parliamentary Secretary's Christmas Cards

Could the Taoiseach tell us whether there will be more Christmas cards sent out this year than last year? Is he aware that one man sent out 26,000 last year?

It is not my intention to send out more this year, I can assure the Deputy, if I can avoid it.

I thought the Taoiseach would have to send cards to Heath and Faulkner after——

Why not?

We will leave that to the Deputy.

He has let down the country.

Can the Taoiseach say what they cost last year?

That is in the tabular statement.

It is a true statement.

Question No. 4.

It is a pity we could not change the Rules of this House. Certain Deputies are always taking advantage of this House for personal abuse.

We will send them around to the widows.

We know who got the advantage when those three people met. It was not our Taoiseach in any case.

Will Deputies on all sides permit questions to be answered?

Deputy Burke will get a Christmas card anyway. He is all right.