The Minister said that the embargo in the public service has not helped him.

That is right.

Is that embargo still in force?

I have already told the House that two further people were recently sent abroad on training and that I hope to have three further placement officers.

I am talking about the general embargo. Is that still in force? The Minister told us about two possible recruitments in his own Department, but is the embargo generally in force?

That is a matter for another Minister.

The Minister said that this was one of the things he had to contend with. Is it or is it not in force?

That is a matter for another Minister.

Why did the Minister refer to it if it is a matter for another Minister?

I would like to repeat, for the Deputy's benefit, that there are two guidance officers presently being trained abroad. I hope, with the approval of the Minister for the Public Service, to have three more appointed in 1978.

Would the Minister answer the question I put to him as to whether the embargo is or is not still in force?

The answer I gave was that the embargo on the staff in recent years applied to the National Manpower Service.

That for the third time is the answer as it was the first time, but it still does not answer the question I asked. He referred to the embargo in the public service. Is that embargo in force or is it not?

May I explain to the Deputy again—and he knows well from his time in office—that that is a question for another Minister?

It was just as simple the fourth time as it was the first.

Let me finish. As far as is applies to the National Manpower Service I have now sanction for two people who are being trained abroad and for three others whom I hope will be recruited next year.