asked the Taoiseach the percentage increase in the cost of living between 1st January and 30th September, 1972.

61.

andMr. G. Lynch asked the Taoiseach the percentage increase in the cost of living during the period 1st January, 1972, to 20th September, 1972.

With your permission a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 61 together.

The consumer price index is calculated in respect of mid-February, mid-May, mid-August and mid-November each year. Between mid-February, 1972, and mid-August, 1972, the index rose by 4.3 per cent. The percentage increase between mid-November, 1971, and mid-August, 1972, was 6.7.

62.

asked the Taoiseach if he will state the cost of living increase for the second and third quarters of 1972; and the corresponding increase for the same periods in 1971.

Between mid-February and mid-May, 1972, the consumer price index——

Question No. 62.

Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply——

——rose by 1.5 per cent and between mid-May and mid-August, 1972, the rise was 2.8 per cent.

I take it the Parliamentary Secretary's hearing is not faulty and he can hear me asking a supplementary question. Arising out of his reply, in what way do the figures in the answer he gave to Questions Nos. 60 and 61 compare with last year?

I have just given the Deputy the answer to the question.

It is double— treble.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary answer the supplementary question?

Between mid-February and mid-May, 1972, the consumer price index rose by 1.5 per cent and between mid-May and mid-August, 1972, the rise was 2.8 per cent. The percentage increases in the corresponding periods in 1971 were 2.7 and 1.9 respectively.

I take it the Parliamentary Secretary is not answering my supplementary question.

What is the Parliamentary Secretary doing?

Question No. 63.

We have not had No. 62 yet.

I did not hear the reply.

It is very difficult to hear a reply when Deputy Harte is discourteous.

Deputy Harte was not ruled out of order by you, Sir, and the Parliamentary Secretary has no right to rule him out of order.

Asking a supplementary question is not discourteous yet.

Does Deputy O'Connell wish to put a supplementary question?

I wish to hear the reply to Question No. 62.

Between mid-February and mid-May, 1972, the consumer price index rose by 1.5 per cent and between mid-May and mid-August, 1972, the rise was 2.8 per cent. The percentage increases in the corresponding periods in 1971 were 2.7 and 1.9 respectively.

63.

asked the Taoiseach by how many points the cost of living has risen since November, 1971.

Between mid-November, 1971, and mid-August, 1972, the consumer price index with base mid-November, 1968, as 100 rose from 128.6 to 137.2 or by 8.6 points. This is equivalent to 6.7 per cent.

May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary is this performance in accordance with the promises and undertakings given by the Government at the last general election?

That is a separate question.

The Deputy might ask that at the next general election.

I am asking it now. May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary are he and his colleagues not ashamed of such a disgraceful disclosure in relation to the cost of living?

It is not a shameful disclosure. The Deputy is playing politics.

May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether it is not the case in respect of the figures he disclosed that the latest increase for the quarter ended in August is running at a rate equivalent to 11 per cent and is this not something of a record?

That is a separate question.

64.

asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of each item included in the compilation of the consumer price index, the percentage change in price or charge between August, 1970, and August 1971, and between August, 1971, and August, 1972.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the required information.

Following is the statement:

Percentage change in prices of items entering into the Consumer Price Index between mid-August, 1970, and mid-August, 1971, and between mid-August, 1971, and mid-August, 1972.

Question No. 66. Questions Nos. 65 and 67 were taken with Questions Nos. 49 to 52.

I did not hear you call out Question No. 67.

There is a mistake.

You called Nos. 65 and 66.

Questions Nos. 49 to 52 and, with them, Nos. 65 and 67.