asked the Taoiseach if he has any priorities in policy for the Dublin European Council Meeting in November.

Yes—to ensure that the meeting is conducted as effectively as possible and that the interests of the Community and of Ireland are advanced.

Is the Taoiseach aware of the stated policy intentions of certain member Governments to revise the Community agricultural policy in a manner which would have serious economic implications for our economy? Would he agree that if there is this growing lessening of support for the CAP in its present form it would be to our national advantage over the period of our Presidency to seek to meet constructively some changes that may be pressed upon us later?

No individual member country has a right to reduce or change the CAP in any way. That would be a matter for the Community as a whole.

I am suggesting that to utilise the brief period of our Presidency to the national advantage would be to meet any changes that may prove inevitable hereafter and to utilise this period by seeking to inaugurate discussion on changes that may hereafter prove to be inevitable.

Is this because the Deputy's colleagues are voting for a change?

We know what has been done with the regional policy.

Could the Ceann Comhairle discourage Ministers and Deputies from interrupting the Taoiseach's reply?

I am calling on all Members in the House to cease interrupting.

Arising from the Taoiseach's reply and the fact that he has stated that they are working to advance our interests at present, is he aware, despite the fact that he is President of the Council of Ministers and the Minister for Agriculture, Deputy Gibbons, is President of the Council of Agricultural Ministers, that cattle and milk prices are collapsing and that the regional fund has been reduced by £200 million? Is that working in the interests of Ireland?

That is irrelevant.

May I ask the Taoiseach whether his unwillingness to answer Deputy O'Leary's question stems from the absence of any Government strategy——

I was about to do so. I have just said that Deputy L'Estrange's question was irrelevant and I was about to answer Deputy O'Leary when Deputy FitzGerald rushed in. It was not necessary as I was going to do it anyway.

The Taoiseach has already refused to answer Deputy O'Leary's question.

No, I said I would wait until I heard Deputy L'Estrange's question. In answer to Deputy O'Leary, I can assure him that the Government are fully committed to maintaining the common agricultural policy of the EEC in its fullest possible context.

Order. The Taoiseach should be allowed to answer the question.

A Fianna Fáil Government negotiated our entry into the EEC and I can assure the Deputy that we are determined to protect the interests of all aspects and all sectors of our economy.