asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the cost of official greeting cards sent by him and his Parliamentary Secretary at Christmas 1974; and whether the cards were of Irish manufacture.

The cost of cards sent by me was £37.20. The cards were of Irish manufacture. No cards were sent by my Parliamentary Secretary.

Can the Minister indicate what the previous holder of the office cost the State?

That is a separate question.

I do not know if it was £600 or £800.

Is it not a fact that the Parliamentary Secretary to the previous Minister issued 45,000 Christmas cards before the election?

Question No. 9.

He sent 45,000 cards and did not get that number of votes in the election.

Arising from the Minister's reply and the uninvited remarks of Deputy Coogan, I would be grateful if the Minister would give the figures for his predecessor in office.

The previous Minister was not noted for sending cards.

The Minister gave a figure.

The question asked about the Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary.

Yes, but the Minister gave free, gratis and for nothing the information that £600 had been spent on cards.

That figure would not be far wrong when the two are included but it was not the Minister who sent the cards.

Would the Minister not be fairer to the ex-Minister?

Order, please. Question No. 9.