asked the Taoiseach the criteria used by the Government in issuing invitations to State receptions.

There is no standard list of persons to be invited to State receptions. The composition of invitation lists varies with the purpose of the particular function, and with the organisation, person or occasion being honoured.

Will the Taoiseach agree that the Government were very small when they would not invite Opposition spokesmen, especially the spokesman on foreign affairs for the Fine Gael party to the German reception which was held recently?

On which occasion?

The reception for the German President last week.

In Killarney?

No, in Dublin Castle.

There was no reception for the German President; there was only a dinner at which I went to some trouble to make sure that the Opposition parties in general were as adequately represented as possible and indeed perhaps more adequately represented than on many previous occasions.

There was no State reception for the German President?

No. There was a reception in Killarney of which the Deputy is aware but that was a reception given by the German President and not by the Irish Government.

That is not the reception referred to.

The Taoiseach said that the Opposition were represented perhaps better than on previous occasions. I am a bit puzzled by that comment because it has been firm tradition to ensure that the Opposition were represented on these occasions which has been carried on by successive Governments. I trust the Taoiseach was not suggesting otherwise.

I hope there would not be any argument between us on this matter.

Just the Taoiseach's phrase.