asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of each year since 1972 up to the latest year for which figures are available (a) the cost-of-living index number and (b) the reason for the increase.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the consumer price index —with base mid-November, 1968, as 100—for mid-February each year together with the contributions of the main commodity groups to the overall annual percentage changes.

Following is the statement:—

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (BASE MID-NOVEMBER 1968 AS 100) FOR MID-FEBRUARY 1972—1977 AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE MAIN COMMODITY GROUPS TO THE OVERALL ANNUAL PERCENTAGE CHANGES

Can the Parliamentary Secretary answer the second part of the question—(b) the reason for the increase.

No, Sir, I cannot answer that. The Central Statistics Office, in sending up the material for the reply, did not attempt to answer it. I take it the reason for their not attempting to answer it is that the reasons would be multifarious and possibly not even objectively capable of agreement.

Devastating.

There are a lot of different reasons and some of these might be arguable for increases in various commodities and services.

Could the reason be condensed into the fact that the Government were completely incompetent and allowed the situation to develop?

No. No matter what I say the Deputy will make statements like that for his own satisfaction.

3.