The Minister of State has come in here trying to refer to something mentioned in this House yesterday. He said that I had no evidence to offer.

Could the Deputy confine himself to the question?

He got five minutes and these are serious allegations in relation to a statement which I made and which I stand over totally. First, I refer the Minister of State to a Gay Byrne programme of not so very long ago which the general public heard.

I am sorry, Deputy. On Question No. 9, I understood that the Deputy had a supplementary question.

Will the Minister of State accept that a member of his staff from the stores department phoned up on a Gay Byrne live programme not very long ago and the tape can be got in RTE, if the Minister wishes. This member of the staff said that he could not install telephones in a specific area in the Dublin district because they did not have the wire in the stores and did not have the money from the Department to buy it. This statement was made on live radio by a member of the Minister's own staff. Is he not now prepared to accept that his own stores people know what is going on and that he obviously does not?

I am giving the directions and the Deputy is no longer Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.

Does he not accept what his own people are saying over live radio?

Order, please. Could we have a little order? I am calling Question No. 10.

There is another part of this story.

Question No. 10, please Minister.

We know the score.

The Minister is caught out in his bluffs.

He is caught out badly.

Christmas carols by Deputies Killilea and Reynolds.

I am calling Question No. 10.

10.