——Deputy Molloy refers to a case going back to 4 October last. Is the Minister aware that there are people who have been without benefits since the beginning of the year, since January, who, when they write to the Minister, cannot get replies? When they try to telephone they cannot get through, the number is engaged because of the huge number of people trying to ring the same number. Is the Minister further aware that when one of my constituents, did get through he was abruptly told to go—a very obscene word was used—followed by a letter from the Minister's Department which was obscene, offensive and abusive and about which I will personally speak to the Minister?

I would ask the Deputy to give me evidence of both these instances. I do not think it is fair to quote them unless there is very specific and definite evidence about them. The staff in the Department have been undertaking a very considerable burden of work with this change-over. Because we discussed this before it started I would have hoped that Deputies would give the staff of the Department their co-operation at this time. I am afraid, looking at the lack of quotation of numbers alone, that has not been forthcoming.

I want to assure the Minister that I have given this very serious thought and I will give him the evidence this evening. But I think it is despicable ——

Please, a question, Deputy.

——of people in a Department of Social Welfare, that the only consideration they have for people who need and are entitled to money, is to use filthy words——

Please, Deputy, this is Question Time. The Deputy must ask a supplementary question or I will have to ask him to resume his seat.

Then they receive a letter written on Department notepaper, enclosed in a Department envelope, written by a person in the Department, which is a reflection on the people the Minister has there. I want an in-depth inquiry into it.

If the Deputy has such evidence and lets me have it I will pursue the matter.

Would the Minister accept that people come to public representatives only when they cannot get what is their entitlement under the social welfare code, that Deputies are more than willing to co-operate with the staff of his Department and do not engage in abusive practices or abuse his staff over the telephone — as he alleges — that Deputies are only trying to secure for their constituents what are those constituents' rights and for which, in many instances, under insurance schemes they have paid?

And that the officials are working under pressure because of the bad system operating?

I do not accept, in the first instance, that people come to a Deputy only when they cannot get something. I would accept that they come to a Deputy ——

Cuckoo.

If the Deputy does not mind, I will answer. I would accept that they come when they do not get something. The reasons they do not get something — and I also am a TD and have found this quite frequently recently — is that people have not quoted their RSI numbers, that consequently the Department have no option but to start writing back to them. That in itself is a long process. Quite a few of the recipients will not be inclined to write back anyway and the problem develops. As an ordinary TD, if I get a question like that, I first get the name and address, insurance number and RSI number and have no difficulty subsequently in sorting out the problem.

Is it true that officials are leaving the Department in great numbers because they cannot stick the system?

I am sorry the Minister is trying to cover it up rather than trying to cure it.

A final supplementary from Deputy Crotty.

I will have to move on if Deputy Crotty does not ask a question.