asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether he is satisfied with the EEC Commission proposals regarding the sheep meat market; and, if not, the steps he proposes towards improvement of these proposals.

16.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a comprehensive statement on the up-to-date position with regard to a common agricultural policy for sheep and lambs.

With your permission, a Cheann Chomhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 16 together.

I have been pressing at meetings of the Council of Ministers for the introduction of a regulation covering the sheep meat market. At the January meeting of the Council the Commission indicated that it expected to be in a position to submit its proposals to the Council before the end of May.

Is the Minister in a position to inform the House of his estimate of the amount of money the country has lost as a result of not having the CAP for sheep during the last 12 months?

My opinion is that we have lost nothing. Because of all the pressure we brought on the French to keep the market open prices were satisfactory throughout the year. I do not think we would have been any better if we had a regulation but it is difficult to assess that.

Arising from the Minister's reply and in the absence of my European Parliamentary colleague, Deputy Gibbons, who presumably is in Europe at the moment, is the Minister aware that the common agricultural policy is being debated in the European Parliament and that five members of the National Coalition are being detained in this House owing to a breakdown in the paring arrangement with Fianna Fáil——

That is hardly relevant.

Would the Minister not agree that the sincerity of this question would be better demonstrated if we were permitted to make the Irish case in Europe?

That is not relevant to the question. Let us return to the subject matter of Questions Nos. 15 and 16.

As Deputy Thornley is on the record with an irrelevant question, I demand the right to ask a similarly irrelevant supplementary question.

The Deputy hardly expects the Chair to condone disorder.

Why is it necessary to have five Deputies who are members of the European Parliament sitting on the Government benches now when we have three Deputies in Strasbourg at the present time whom we were quite willing to pair with three Government Deputies——

This is not an appropriate time to discuss this matter, as the Deputy will appreciate.

Why is it necessary for the Government to have five Deputies in Europe when they have 45 Senators in the Upper House——

This is not the time to discuss the matter.

Do they not think they are suitable to represent this Parliament, not this House, at Strasbourg——

Order. I am calling Question No. 17.

It is a Godsend to have Deputy Thornley home. He was only doing damage in Europe.

Let us get back to questions please.

They should have an Ard-Fheis each week.

I am asking Members to co-operate with the Chair in upholding the dignity of the House. Let us get back to questions. Question No. 17.

Hear, hear.

Arising out of the last reply——

Would Deputy Crinion please obey the Chair and allow progress to be made?

I rose to be called and I was not called. The price of sheep dropped by £1 a head last month.

Deputy Crinion will please resume his seat.