asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry when he will visit the State sawmills at Cong, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

As the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry will not be in a position to visit the sawmill in question in the immediate future he has asked me, as Minister of State, to undertake the visit and I will be glad to do so as soon as possible.

I wish to raise a small point. The reply of the Minister of State sounded as though both his diary and that of the principal Minister, Deputy Daly, is very heavily booked for the next six months. What exactly are the two Ministers doing if they cannot visit a sawmill under the charge of their Department?

What did the previous Minister do?

Why is it that the Minister cannot visit a State sawmill?

The previous Minister did not have a Minister of State.

The Deputy did not hear my reply which was to the effect that I would be visiting the sawmill in the near future.

I do not want to belittle the willingness of the Minister of State to find time in his crowded schedule for a visit to a State sawmill but why is it that the Minister cannot do what he is being asked to do? What is he so busy at that he cannot visit the sawmill?

My brief in the Department is for forestry and wildlife and that is why the Minister has asked me to do this.