asked the Minister for Agriculture the percentage by which farm incomes are expected to rise in the current year.

At this stage in the season it is not possible to predict with any degree of reliability the extent to which farm incomes will increase but the indications are that there will be a reasonable growth in the current year.

Can the Minister say when he will have a more accurate prediction of what farm income increases will be in the current year?

The degree of accuracy in any set of predictions will increase as we approach the end of the year. There are some imponderables such as weather conditions during the cereal and sugar beet harvest that can have a real bearing for better or for worse.

What percentage growth in farm incomes does the Minister consider reasonable?

That is a separate question.

The Minister used the word "reasonable". He must have some figure in mind.

The Chair is guided by the question on the Order Paper.

The Minister will not commit himself on "reasonable"?

I would not like to, as I would be in breach of the Ceann Comhairle's instruction.