asked the Minister for Labour if he will state in respect of himself and any Minister of State in his Department for the period 1 January 1980 to date: (i) whether any circulars on matters unconnected with his responsibilities have been sent on his behalf by post by officials of his Department to groups of his constituents; (ii) the number of different circulars involved; and (iii) the estimated number of items mailed.

No such circulars have been sent out by me or by the Minister of State at my Department. Correspondence in our capacity as Dáil Deputies is issued as appropriate and, as the Deputy is aware, this is in accordance with well-established and long-standing practice.

Would the Minister of State share my definition of a circular as being an identical document sent to a number or group of people at the initiative of the person sending the document rather than on request on the part of the group of people concerned?

All Deputies have a different way of operating, as the Deputy knows, and I am not prepared to go into that. If the Deputy puts down specific details in regard to the person or persons he wants to know about, I might be able to give him some more detailed information.

Would the Minister of State agree that the point at issue here is whether the Ministers are sending vast reams of circulars around the place? Would he agree that, if they are sending vast reams of circulars around the place, they are possibly abusing the taxpayers' money and, if they are not, they are disobeying their Taoiseach who apparently told them to do so?

I am not aware of that.

How many staff are now working in the Minister's office and the Minister of State's office answering or dealing with correspondence on behalf of the Minister?

I have not that information here, but if the Deputy puts down a question on it I will have it duly answered.

Surely that is a very relevant and pertinent question.