asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if members of the Fine Gael Party who are members of the European Parliament and its committees are briefed by him on government policy in regard to agricultural matters.

26.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if members of the Labour Party who are members of the European Parliament and its committees are briefed by him on government policy in regard to agricultural matters.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 26 together.

My Department have from time to time given briefing material on agricultural matters to members from any side of the House who have sought such assistance in connection with their attendance at meetings of the European Parliament or its committees. Indeed, I am most anxious to help all Irish delegates in this, and had already taken the initiative towards arranging a meeting with them to discuss the matter.

Is the Minister aware that the Labour Party within the European Parliament and its committees have adopted a policy which is detrimental to agriculture in Ireland and have taken a stand in regard to prices? We are losing millions of pounds because of the stand they have taken.

No statements, please.

I would like the Minister to impress on those Members that unless they take a certain line he would ask his Leader to have them replaced.

This is a nonsensical statement.

I am asking the Minister to discuss the matter with his Leader. We are not speaking as a Government in Europe. We are losing millions of pounds.

Will the Deputy please restrain himself?

Arising from what the Minister has said—perhaps, he was not quite clear—I take it that the Irish European Member of the Progressive——

Order, please.

It is hard to keep abreast of these Members——

I am calling Question No. 27.

May I ask one short, supplementary question?

Very quickly, please.

Would you not agree that the concern expressed about the fate of the Irish farmers by Deputy Meaney who, I understand to be with Deputy G. Collins and Deputy J. Gibbons, now happily in Strasbourg joint contenders for the role of Opposition spokesmen on Agriculture— would be better met if a full and united delegation——

Would the Minister agree that calling Deputy Thornley back from Europe was the best guarantee possible of better prices for beef?

Thank God you have not two Ard-Fheiseanna a year.

I am asking for a supplementary question.

The Chair has called the next question and Deputy G. Fitzgerald will resume his seat.

Under protest. The European Parliamentarians have one rule here and——

If the Deputy is making an allegation against the Chair he will leave the House. Deputy G. Fitzgerald will allow Question Time to continue or will leave the House.

Will Deputy Fitzgerald please allow Question Time to continue or leave the House?

For the second day in succession——

Deputy Fitzgerald, leave the House.

He is entitled to ask those questions.

On a point of order——

There is no point of order when the Chair is ruling. Deputy Fitzgerald, please resume your seat or leave the House.

Under protest.

On a point of order——

There can be no point of order during Question Time. This is most irregular.

On a point of order which has to do with the order of procedure, in fairness to Deputy Fitzgerald he should have the right to ask the odd supplementary, more especially so seeing the way he has been provoked by the Deputy from Dublin North-East and the Deputy from Dublin North-West who profess to know a lot about agriculture.