Have the Minister and his Department taken note of what the Taoiseach said were his instructions to Ministers that there was not to be quite a bias in favour but certainly any contract being applied for by a Northern Ireland firm should be given very favourable consideration? Is the Minister's Department following that policy?

(Dublin South-East): The Deputy is indicating what he struck out at the start of his comment by speaking about bias towards Northern Ireland in relation to such contracts. I do not share the Deputy's interpretation of what the Taoiseach said. The Taoiseach was referring to open competition for the entire country and I share his view in that respect. I am not too sure if the Deputy wishes to put a strange interpretation on that statement but the Taoiseach's recommendation was that consideration would be given to Northern Ireland firms. I share that view.

Is the point that the competition is not fair? This complaint has been given to the Minister by the CIF and it has been repeated by Deputies in the House this afternoon.

(Dublin South-East): I answered the Deputy earlier by saying that if there is any particular instance where he thinks it is not fair I feel it would be more helpful to the House rather than give a sort of blanket set of innuendos, to particularise, to put it down and have the case examined.

The CIF gave the Minister's Department endless examples. They are on file in his Department.

(Dublin South-East): If I am given instances I will have them investigated.