andMr. Kelly asked the Minister for Justice if he has seen a report (details supplied) to the effect that a special Garda unit has been disbanded due to a refusal to sanction overtime and if he will make a statement on this matter.

The report in question is unfounded. No Garda unit has been disbanded due to a refusal to sanction overtime.

It may be unfair to ask this, but since the question was put down the Minister may have seen a further newspaper report with an allegation in it, not about a specific unit but in general, that there has been a severe tightening up on overtime with the result that the number of men on the beat has been strongly reduced.

As the Deputy said, the question is an unfair one. I gave an answer to a specific question and if the Deputy wants a comprehensive reply to the type of question he is asking in his supplementary I would not be prepared to give it to him.

The Minister has given it by refusing to answer.

I am not refusing to answer anything. I am pointing out that the purpose of a Parliamentary Question is to get as much information as possible. I could not answer Deputy Kelly's supplementary question as it should be answered because of the way it was asked.

Does the Minister not accept that Deputy Kelly's supplementary question is very pertinent?

I accept that every question asked in this House is very pertinent whether it is in order or out of order.

If it is relevant it is bound to be in order.