asked the Minister for Finance (a) the reason it was deemed necessary to lay new blue carpeting in hallways and passages in Leinster House not formerly carpeted; (b) whether any overtime hours were worked in laying the carpet and, if so, the reason the work required such expedition; and (c) what the carpeting and the laying of it cost the State.

(Clare): (a) Maintenance and improvement works are programmed for Leinster House every year and are usually carried out during the Dáil recess, particularly the summer recess. Because of the impending visits of foreign dignitaries to the House some of the improvement works, including the provision of carpets, were brought forward and carried out towards the end of May at the request of the Leinster House authorities. (b) Overtime was worked in laying the carpets. It is customary to lay carpets in Leinster House outside normal sitting times to minimise the inconvenience to Oireachtas Members and Staff. (c) Supply and laying of the carpets cost £8,076.

Well, now, Sir, may I just say this in brackets before I start, this is a small matter but a significant one. Would you allow me, Sir, to start by reminding the Minister of State of my rough translation of an old German proverb: he who despises the penny is not fit to be trusted with the pound. Could I ask the Minister of State this: if these carpets are normally laid in vacation, where is the necessity for overtime when, during vacation, there is an almost total absence of Deputies and Senators from the House and, when they are there, they can well be asked to step over a roll of carpet or to go by a slightly circuitous route of a couple of feet when walking along a corridor, as everybody in this Chamber frequently has been doing anyway?

(Clare): I did say in my reply that they were laid in May which was not in a period of recess. Overtime was required at that time in order to get the work completed in time for the visit of foreign dignitaries. Let me add also that it was done at the request of the Leinster House authorities.

Could I ask the Minister of State whether the foreign dignitaries to whom he refers were simply some of our sundered kith and kin, representatives of the American House of Representatives and Senate led by their Chairman, Mr. Tip O'Neill? Are not these the digitaries for whom overtime had to be worked in putting down a bit of blue carpet?

(Clare): They were dignitaries but we also had a visit to the House, at least the Ceann Comhairle had a visit, from the Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg.

The Minister of State is not telling us that we are going to fire down blue carpet for a three-quarters of an hour visit of a grand duke and duchess? Is the Minister fo State serious about this?

(Clare): I am serious when I say we were requested to do it.

This is more of Operation Lace Curtain. What was wrong with the clean lino which was there, with which because the colour scheme, the present royal blue carpet, royal no doubt attributable to the Grand Duke and Duchess, offers such a very unpleasing aesthetic contrast? Have we gone mad altogether, that we can fire out £8,000 for this exercise which has not even been done properly, because this carpeting, is of a kind — in so far as my skill in such matters is concerned — that would lead me to believe it is intended for wall to wall laying and is already beginning to fray along the edges where people walk on it? What was wrong with the old lino, or have we taken leave of our senses altogether? Sir, I know it is a small matter but it is a symbol of what has overtaken this State.

Deputy, I am afraid I must take the blame, not the Minister.