asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to the comments of the Irish Exporters Association, the CII and other commercial organisations, on his comments in Cork in mid-April on the effects of the telecommunications dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am aware of the matters referred to by the Deputy.

This dispute has undoubtedly been the cause of frustration, inconvenience and loss to the business community. However, it is not possible to quantify these.

Is the Minister aware that his own statement is at variance with that of the Irish Exporters Association, the CII and Córas Tráchtála? Why is there such a difference?

I wish to repeat that I never said that it was not a serious dispute. I said that the statements of loss were exaggerated.

Exaggerated by whom?

By public utterances. For example, even the figures mentioned by different bodies did not coincide.

Is the Minister suggesting that the IDA, the Irish exporters Association and the CII all exaggerated their figures?

The IDA did not put any figure of loss on it and the CII did not put any figure of loss on it.

The Irish Exporters Association put a figure on it.

Exactly, but they were not able to quantify it.