asked the Minister for Finance the amount of money paid externally in interest payments on the foreign debt of the Exchequer and semi-State bodies in each of the last four years; and the projected figure for 1981.

The following is the information requested by the Deputy:

In 1977, £99 million; 1978, £131 million; 1979, £141 million; 1980, £240 million.

The figure for 1981 is estimated at £340 million based on current interest and exchange rates.

Is the Minister happy with those figures?

I have replied to the question put down by the Deputy. These payments, as the Deputy is well aware, are the interest payments by the Exchequer and by the semi-State bodies on borrowings. I have, many times, outlined this Government's policy on borrowings. There are other questions down on that subject, in case the Deputy is not so aware.

Surely I am within my rights, narrow though these may have become, in asking whether the Minister is happy with the trend in the amount of foreign borrowing and in interest payments which foreign borrowing implies.

These are related to foreign borrowings and these are payments on foreign borrowings.

Is the Minister happy with the trend or not?

There are questions coming up on that subject and the Deputy will then be at liberty to ask me all the questions he likes.

Is that a reason why I cannot pursue the Minister with a very simple question? Is the Minister satisfied or not satisfied with the trend disclosed by the figures which he has given to the House?

The trend relates to the borrowings.

The Deputy cannot keep repeating the question.

I am asking the simplest possible supplementary question and the Minister is ignoring me.

The Deputy cannot keep asking the same question over and over again. I am not responsible for the Minister's answers.

You can be glad of that, Sir.

8.