asked the Minister for Finance the steps he is taking to prevent the smuggling of barley into the country.

14.

asked the Minister for Finance the measures he is taking to prevent the smuggling of grain from Northern Ireland into the Republic.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.

The Revenue Commissioners are alive to the danger of grain smuggling. Measures to combat this traffic have been intensified and several seizures of grain, including barley, have been made in recent months.

Is it the position that the special staff in the Minister's Department who normally carry out work on the Border in connection with smuggling were only put on for a few days—although they were very successful days, as the Minister has pointed out—that they were then withdrawn and that smuggling is going ahead apace since they were withdrawn?

I must say I am not aware of the situation as suggested by the Deputy. I have no information to suggest that is so. I am aware of the fact that there have been meetings between the Revenue Commissioners and certain organisations who are directly concerned in this matter. The assistance of these organisations has been enlisted with some advantage accruing to the improvement of detection of grain smuggling.

Is the Minister aware of the very successful campaign that was carried on in 1976 and 1977 by the Department of Agriculture to get farmers to grow more barley, to grow the barley that was imported hitherto? I mention this to the Minister to draw his attention to the urgency of stopping the importation of this inferior French barley which will endanger next year's harvest.

The Deputy is making a statement, not asking a question.

This matter should not be treated by the Chair in this way. It is an important and serious question.

I will remind the Deputy that however important it is he did not ask a supplementary question. He made a statement.

I did ask a supplementary question. I did not make a statement. I prefaced my remarks——

The Deputy made a statement.

I am aware of the importance of the matter and I can tell the Deputy that vigilance is being maintained.

I should like to thank the Minister.