Could I ask the Minister of State — in view of the fact that this is the fourth or fifth day running on which he has been taking the strictly Finance, as distinct from the Office of Public Works, Questions, in place of Deputy MacSharry — whether he regards it as satisfactory that the exigencies of a by-election should keep the Minister for Finance away from this House during the discussion and putting of a very large number of extremely important questions for which Deputy Barrett, great though is the personal regard we have for him, is in no position to assume responsibility and frequently — and I do not mean this with any disrespect — does not know what is the purpose of the Question?

Deputy, this was answered this morning.

Sir, we did not know this morning——

(Clare): In answer to the question, the absence of the Minister has nothing to do with the by-election. He is in the Seanad with his Finance Bill.

We have now had four or five days running on which the Minister for Finance has not been here. Surely the Minister of State might agree that it would have been a courtesy and a sign of some responsibility to the House if the Minister had been here perhaps yesterday, perhaps last Thursday, perhaps last Wednesday, on all of which occasions — notwithstanding that we saw Deputy MacSharry off and on — Deputy Barrett opposite, who is strictly speaking responsible only for the Office of Public Works, was asked to reply to his questions, for most of which we simply had to take his good faith as——

(Clare): The Minister was in the Seanad yesterday also with, I think, the Second Reading of the Finance Bill.

Is there any rule which prohibits Deputy Barrett from appearing in the Seanad in place of Deputy MacSharry and allowing Deputy MacSharry to appear here, as Minister for Finance, to answer to his own House? Is there any rule which prohibits a Minister of State from appearing in the Seanad? Many a time it has happened, and I have done it myself.

Is it not the case that it is precisely for this reason that the Constitution provides that the only Minister who must be a Member of the Dáil is the Minister for Finance?

Hear, hear.