asked the Taoiseach the estimated number of persons at present out of work who are seeking work, in actual terms and with seasonal adjustment; and if he will state in detail how these figures are arrived at.

Regular information on the level and trend of unemployment is provided by the weekly live register figures. This aggregate consists of claimants for unemployment benefit, applicants for unemployment assistance and other persons mainly registering in order to obtain credited social welfare contributions. All such persons must satisfy the necessary eligibility conditions which require that the persons concerned be available for and seeking work. The most recent live register total, relating to 24 February 1978, was 112, 161.

An offical seasonally adjusted live register series is not compiled. This matter is at present under consideration.

Would the Minister of State recognise that I did not need to be told the factors which go to make up the live register, and that what I am looking for is the number of workless by reference to that and any other information he may have?

The number of?

I answered questions like this for four-and-a-half years. I know all about the live register. What about the 160,000?

There is nothing about 160,000 in the question.

It has become a legend in our own lifetime already. In view of the fact that the live register——

We are not having a debate now.

I must protest at the way you treat questions of mine in this House. You are there to protect me as well as the other side.

I am here to see that Standing Orders are upheld. The Deputy is not permitted to make a statement, not will he be permitted. I am making that definite now. I want to make it clear for good and all.

Will you allow me, Sir, to pursue briefly with a couple of questions this matter of the total number of workless? Would the Minister agree it was publicly stated by his party during the election last June that the actual number of workless was about 50,000 more than the live register, the live register at that time having been about 109,000 as against 112,000 today?

That is not so.

The live register was roughly 120,000.

Would the Minister not accept that the figure published in large figures up and down the country by his party was 160,000 at a time when the live register was 3,000 less than it is today?

That is not so.

Would the Minister accept that? Yes or no?

I accept that we talked in general terms of an estimate of 160,000.

What has happened to the extra 50,000?

I am relying on the information available to me in the Statistics Office. I am giving information based on the actual information available to me.

For the sake of clarity on economic policy making, could I ask the Minister of State would he not agree we ought to have a clearly determined basis for deciding how many people are out of work? As Ministers on his side of the House have used different sets of figures derived from different sources, could he tell us which set of figures will be used consistently in future for the purpose of measuring this?

It depends on whether they are in Government or in Opposition.

I have just outlined the figures being used at present. At the end of my reply I indicated that the matter is at present under consideration.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Like so many other things.