asked the Taoiseach if he will list those ports which were used by shipping for loading and unloading in 1980; and the tonnage involved in each case.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the information requested by the Deputy.

Following is the statement.

Tonnages* loaded and unloaded at ports by shipping in the year 1980

Notes:

*Excludes 337,000 livestock handled at ports as follows, Cork 52,000, Dublin 110,000, Waterford 153,000, others 22,000. Includes coastal trade.

†Includes certain private jetties.

I should like to point out that——

Instead of pointing out, perhaps the Deputy would ask a question.

But I must point out first.

The Chair was beginning to think that the Deputy could not think of a question.

I have a number of questions down to the Minister for Transport and this one, too, was put to him originally but transferred to the Taoiseach's Office. Can the Minister tell us which ports qualified under the 1946 Act for State aid?

I do not have that information here.

It is not sought in the question.

However, I shall seek to get it for the Deputy.

It was part of the question asked originally.

But it is not in the question as it appears on the Order Paper.

The question of imports and exports at the various ports incorporates the question of protecting the taxpayers' interests and the NPC have asked for the establishment of a national port authority.

This does not arise. The Deputy wants only a list of ports that were used by shipping.

Surely a list of the importation and exportation——

Questions of policy must go to the appropriate Ministers. We are dealing with a statistical question.

On a point of order, I had a question down to the Minister for Finance yesterday — that was Question No. 22 — and it appears today as No. 25. I understand the procedure is that questions tabled the previous day take precedence and I am wondering if the Chair would consider having that procedure examined by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges with a view to ascertaining if it is still the most appropriate way of operating. I say this because it seems unfair that a question which appears on the Order Paper for one day but which is not reached can appear further down the list for the following day.

The Taoiseach takes precedence.

That is not the point being made.

The point is that the question was tabled to the Minister for Finance but that other questions have overtaken it.

I assure the Deputy that I will have the matter investigated in order to ensure that the Deputy is not at a disadvantage.

I understand that I am not being disadvantaged in this case but would the Chair consider it worthwhile asking the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to examine the situation.

I will do that.

The reason may be that the question is one for the Minister of State.

In any event, I shall have the matter investigated.

I thank the Chair for his assistance but that is not what I am seeking. I understand that procedure has been adhered to, but would the Chair ask the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to examine this procedure with a view to providing that questions are taken in chronological order?

I shall look into the matter to find out whether it can be brought before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.