asked the Taoiseach the figures available for moneys spent by the tobacco and alcohol industries on cigarette, tobacco and alcohol advertising in the Republic for each of the years 1950, 1960, 1970 and to the most recent date for which figures are available.

The information requested by the Deputy is not available since no official series are compiled relating to advertising expenditure on particular commodities.

It has worked for 50 years. Why not go on using it now?