May I ask you, a Cheann Comhairle, the first question today? On what grounds did you exclude The Workers' Party from having consultations with the Friends of Ireland, a facility provided for all the other parties? In your letter you refer to the Opposition parties. We are an Opposition party. For the purpose of attending functions we were recognised as a party.

The Deputy says his party are an Opposition party. They are a Government party.

The Government value only their vote. They are not of value any other way.

Deputy Sherlock.

I wish to refute the rumour that we boycotted the discussions. This morning I have had calls from people in different areas asking why we were excluded from discussions with the visiting group. Naturally, those people in Fine Gael feel badly about their being on the Opposition benches but——

We feel very badly about it.

But it will not be for long.

Time did not permit that. However, I think the Deputy will agree that members of his party participated in all the meetings and all the functions concerned.

But we were not granted the same facility as the other parties were in regard to discussions.

I understood that the Deputy's party were included in the discussions.

Are you saying that you did not decide to exclude our party from the discussions?

I thought I had made arrangements for members of the Deputy's party to be included at the meetings.

You may take it that you did not so arrange.

I am sorry about that.