asked the Taoiseach the number of replacement incalf heifers at the latest livestock enumeration.

: The latest available information relates to the December 1977 enumeration when the total number of heifers-in-calf was estimated at 319,000. Separate figures are not available for replacement heifers-in-calf.

: On a point of order, I inquire as to why a series of questions tabled by me on the recent Green Paper have been ruled out of order by you, Sir. They were addressed to the Minister for Economic Planning and Development.

: While the Deputy is not really in order on raising this here, I ruled out a lot of his questions on the ground that they were anticipatory of the debate on the Adjournment. It is common practice and is precedented.

: I suggest that the ruling out of those questions is unjust and discriminatory because it is the Ceann Comhairle who is anticipating the debate. Any matter may be raised on the Adjournment Debate on these issues.

: We cannot have a debate now.

: The rights of Members of this House are very important. All I wanted was information on the Green Paper. The Minister will not be here after today to answer questions until next October.

: In the last analysis it is the rights of Deputies that the Ceann Comhairle is protecting when he rules out these matters.

: Under which Standing Order are my questions ruled out of order?

: There are Standing Orders and precedent. I will not go into a discussion on them at Question Time.

: I am not finished yet.

: I say you are.

: I am saying I am not. I want to know——

: I am not going to be questioned on the reasons for ruling out. The Deputy has recourse to means which have been explained already.

: Is there a suggestion that the Minister is being protected? If he is it is not from this side of the House that he needs protection.

: It is no part of the Ceann Comhairle's function to protect the Minister except in so far as he must uphold Standing Orders and the Rules of the House.

: Is it not a fact that any question on the Order Paper today can be raised on the Adjournment?

: The Deputy is being grossly disorderly in raising this matter at Question Time. If that were permitted every Deputy whose question was ruled out of order would be bringing it up here. I could not permit that.

: This issue, Sir, and your comments on not allowing the questions are of extreme importance to the whole House.

: There will be another place for raising it.

: When?

: A Cheann Comhairle, the reason you gave to Deputy Keating was that his questions anticipated the debate. It is normal and in accordance with long-established procedure and precedent that Deputies do submit questions in order to solicit factual information in anticipation of a debate.

: That is correct with regard to statistical questions.

: Not necessarily.

: I am calling Question No. 4.

: On a point of order——

: Question No. 4. I will not permit a discussion on this.

: We cannot permit democracy to be thrown out the door because the Ceann Comhairle wants to protect the Minister.

: That is a very unfair statement by the Deputy.

: The evidence is there.

: On a point of order, the Ceann Comhairle wrote to me on 21 June disallowing questions which I had addressed to the Minister as to the basis of certain calculations in the recently published Green Paper.

: Does the Deputy wish to raise it on the Adjournment?

: I assure the Ceann Comhairle that he said——

: This is exactly what I do not want. This is never permitted and no decision has been taken by the Ceann Comhairle that has not many predecents in past practice.

: On a point of order——

: On a point of order, my recollection over the past number of years is that prior to the budget debate, for example, it has been the practice to put down many questions to elicit information necessary for the proper conduct of that debate and that one of the functions of Question Time has been to elicit information in advance of a debate to enable the debate to be well informed. Therefore, I am positive that the Ceann Comhairle should rule otherwise. I am wondering what precedents are being used.

: I have already explained, and I should not give explanations for these things at Question Time because it is not done, but out of courtesy to the Deputy I repeat that it is the practice prior to the budget debate to permit statisical questions. Many other questions are ruled out and the Deputy must know that.

: In view of the fact that the questions I put down were of an entirely statistical nature could the Ceann Comhairle give the precedents for ruling them out of order in view of the fact that there are now similar questions on the Order Paper?

: The Deputy has other means of inquiring about that.

: I had no other means.

: It may not be raised now. If the Deputies think that the Ceann Comhairle is using some measure of ruling out questions which has not been used before they should bring it up with the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

: I certainly will.

: With genuine respect to the Chair and without wishing to offend or inflame this discussion, I put it to the Ceann Comharle that surely there is no question that could not be ruled out of order on the grounds that a debate was coming up.

: That is hypothetical. Question No. 4.

: It is a disgraceful attack on the rights of Members of this House. It is not hypothetical at all.

: Is it not the case that on an Adjournment debate it is open to the Oppostion to raise any matter? How, therefore, can any question be asked before an Adjournment debate with a guarantee that it will be answered?

: Question No. 4. I want to make it quite clear that the reason for ruling out the questions will not be a matter for discussion at Question Time.

: Can I ask——

: I am calling Question No. 4.

: On a point of order——

: These are not points of order.

: They are.

: They are not points of order and I am not accepting them as such. I am calling Question No. 4.

: May I ask——

: There are certain rights in this House. We have a right to be heard.