asked the Minister for Education if St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, County Kildare, is deemed to be a college of a university under section 3 (2) of the Higher Education Authority Act, 1971, for the purposes of sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of that Act; and, if so, the university of which it is deemed to be a college.

Section 3 of the Higher Education Act, 1971, does not contain a subsection (2).

Could the Minister indicate under what section or subsection St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, is deemed to be a college of a university?

That is not the question I was asked, but I would like to help the Deputy. If he rephrases the question I will be only too happy to give him the information. There must be some slip-up because there is no subsection (2) in section 3.

The Minister was also asked what university the college was deemed to be a college of. Could he answer that aspect of the question without being cynical?

In fairness, I am not being cynical. I was asked a plain, simple question and I had to answer it in the terms in which it was asked. I made an offer to the Deputy that if he repeated the question——

The Minister did not answer the question as posed. Could he now tell me what university St. Patrick's College is deemed to be a college of?

That is a separate question.

On a point of order, a Ceann Comhairle, I asked that specifically in the latter part of the question.

I do not want to become involved in any kind of a wrangle because this has happened before and, as I said, heat without light is not much good to us in the House. I am simply saying that the Deputy asked if St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, is deemed to be a college of a university under section 3 (2) of the Higher Education Authority Act, 1971, for the purposes of sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of that Act. The other seems to be consequential on the first part.

Surely it is beneath the Minister's dignity to shelter behind a slip of the pen by the Deputy.

On a point of order, the Minister did not complete the answer to the question which was, "and, if so of what university it is deemed to be a college". That is a specific question.

It is not.

If it is not, all I can say is the Minister has chosen in his cynical manner to ignore my questions.

I refute the charge of cynicism. Everybody knows that St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, is not a college of the National University of Ireland but is a recognised college of the National University of Ireland and as such has been attracting grants from the Higher Education Authority for some time. I was not asked that question; I answered the question as I found it and I did not do it in any cynical fashion. I am sorry if the Deputy should think I did.

The Minister did it in a smart Alec fashion.

I did not. I want to deny that.