(Cavan-Monaghan): How many returning officers are there?

That is a separate question.

(Cavan-Monaghan): It is not a separate question. I am entitled to ask questions.

The Deputy seems to think that he has a licence to compel the Chair to accept his questions.

(Cavan-Monaghan): The Chair is not being fair.

The Deputy has made that accusation before. The Chair will not be dictated to. The number of returning officers does not relate to the question.

(Cavan-Monaghan): It does. I am asking the Minister how many returning officers there are in this country?

The Deputy should give notice of that question.

(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minster obviously has the information in his brief.

That is no reason why he should answer a question if it is not relevant.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Why, what is wrong with the question?

It is not in order. If I am to permit everybody to ask any question relating to the elections we can spend the whole of Question Time that way. I have permitted more than the average number of supplementary questions to elicit information.

(Cavan-Monaghan): In regard to Bundoran, when you let it go on for about ten minutes because Deputy Blaney was asking the questions—

There are other questions. The Deputy need not drag in analogies.

(Cavan-Monaghan): It is an absolute disgrace and the Chair should be ashamed.

It is only on a county basis.