If some abuses are found and it is discovered that the people concerned are not drawing the benefits at present, will the Parliamentary Secretary deal lightly with them, because a lot of benefits were drawn as a result of the action of over-enthusiastic politicians who told people they were entitled to something they were not entitled to? They did so in order to make themselves popular and give the impression that everybody could draw social welfare.

What about the fact that quite a number of sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses who were appointed by Fianna Fáil told the people they would not get their payments if they did not vote Fianna Fáil?

This is quite irrelevant.

It was enthusiastic supporters of the Government who went around my side of the country and told the people they were entitled to draw social welfare. They even showed them how to fill the forms.

We all know what Clare is like. The Deputy should come up with another one some other day.

Over the last three and a half years the Department have engaged in an advertising campaign at considerable expense informing people as to what their entitlements are under the social welfare code. There has been a considerable improvement in the booklet available to prospective recipients setting out their entitlements. With regard to over-enthusiastic politicians, I do not think there has been much enthusiasm on the Deputy's side regarding social welfare during that period.

Could I have an answer to the question I asked? Will the Parliamentary Secretary treat lightly people who have been caught out as a result of being misinformed by enthusiastic politicians?