No, I asked the Minister if he was aware of any criticism. I did not express any. The other area which has been the subject of some criticism is the involvement of the bureau in the sponsorship of show jumping.

I thought that was an excellent decision by the Health Education Bureau. This indoor show jumping event was the first ever in this country. It was a major sporting event. Through the efforts of the bureau and other interested parties we succeeded in having it and ensuring that it was sponsored entirely without any participation by a tobacco or drink company. In addition, I would have thought that because of the television and other media coverage it got it was an excellent occasion on which to preach the positive health message.

I accept, as I am sure the House does, the Minister's appreciation of the widespread publicity which the event received but did the bureau or the Minister not find any embarrassment in the fact that the majority of the main prizewinners were horses named after a tobacco firm and that the amount of advertising they received was at least as great as, if not greater than what the Health Education Bureau received?

I think that particular tobacco company would receive that publicity anyway because from their own point of view they were clever enough to select some of the best horses in the country and use them for their own shrewd commercial advertising purposes. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do about that. So far as the event is concerned I am quite satisfied that participation by the Health Education Bureau in it was absolutely beneficial and did give them the opportunity of focussing an enormous amount of media attention on their activities.

Could the Minister give an indication of the amount of money that was devoted to that sponsorship by the bureau?

About £28,000.

Would the Minister not consider that money might have been spent better on a sport with a major participation element on the part of the general public? So far as I know, as yet, the tobacco firms have not managed to persuade any individuals to name themselves after a brand of cigarettes.

This is a question on which I do not think the Deputy's opinion is any better or any worse than that of the Health Education Bureau. The Health Education Bureau sponsor Rás Tailteann——

A good idea.

——which is a sporting event involving a great deal of participation but which, unfortunately, does not attract the same amount of publicity and focussing of public attention as horse showjumping does. These are simple facts of life. There is no particular ideological content in the decision one way or the other.

I enjoy showjumping. Was the Minister not embarrassed at having to present the Health Education Bureau prize to the rider of a horse named after a tobacco company?

I do not think that did any harm.

It provided advertising for them.