asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government recently nominated any applicant or applicants to the Commission of the European Community for appointment as Director General; and the outcome of any such nomination.

The recent restructuring of the services of the Commission, in so far as it involved Irish citizens, was the subject of the usual contacts between the Commission and the Government. The Government, at different stages, made known their views to the Commission. The Commission, of course, remains responsible for the appointment of its own officials.

My specific question was whether, in the course of the informal consultations, the Irish Government proposed two different names for the same position? Is it not quite clear that it was as a result of mishandling by the Government that neither person was appointed?

No. It is true that two names were submitted, both with Government approval, but the Commission's decision not to appoint either had nothing to do with the two gentlemen or with who had put the names forward.

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary realise that it is ludicrous, and that it has been recognised as such in Commission circles in Brussels that a Government were proposing that one of their two nominees would be appointed—that a Government should nominate two people for the same position? Will the Parliamentary Secretary not accept that it is as a consequence of that—that the Government could not be united in their own presentation—that neither was appointed?

I do not accept that. That is not the reason why neither was appointed. I do not know what the practice has been heretofore or in other countries but the Deputy may take it as definite that that is not the reason why neither of these gentlemen, both of whom were excellent candidates, was appointed.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary tell me why the Government decided to submit two names simultaneously for the same appointment?

I cannot tell the Deputy.

There were two applicants for one job.

The Deputy has made his point. We cannot debate this all day.

We have become the laughing stock of Europe. We lost out on the appointment because of the Government's mishandling.

That is not so.

It is the old Garret FitzGerald ritual.

Members of the House, particularly Ministers, should be referred to by their proper titles.

8.