asked the Taoiseach the number of man-days lost through labour disputes for each of the past 12 months.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the required information for the months of 1977. Full details of industrial disputes which occurred in the first months of 1978 are not yet available.

Following is the statement:

Number of man-days lost through Industrial Disputes in each month in the year 1977.

Perhaps the Minister can give us the total number of man days lost in the last six months of 1977 and the percentage of those which were due to unofficial disputes?

The 12-monthly figures which were requested by the Deputy are set out in the tabular statement and totalled. I have no total for the last six months.

Perhaps the Minister would help by reading out the totals for each of the six-month periods of last year?

It is unusual.

The Minister has circulated a tabular statement.

The Minister will appreciate that it would facilitate the asking of supplementary questions, regardless of the figures which the Minister refuses to give the House.

I am giving them.

Perhaps the Minister will give them to me now.

I am circulating the figures and that has been the normal practice. It seems the Deputy is unaware of that fact.

We know that the figures are exceedingly high, but can the Minister tell the House what action the Government have taken to solve any one of the disputes?

The total for the second six months of last year is less than the total for the first six months.

The Minister of State should read the figures for each of the 12 months to facilitate the House.