asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will give a break-down of the cost of each of the four sugar factories both in profitability and numbers employed.

I am informed by the Sugar Company that the information sought is of a commercial nature and would serve its competitors' advantage if published.

As the Sugar Company is a State company responsible to the House I do not understand how the information——

Please ask a question.

They have no competitor in this country.

As I have said on numerous occasions, we are in the European Economic Community. We are in a free trade area. There is a surplus of sugar within that trade area. We are competing with an industry which is better equipped than ours in that its throughput is considerably greater. The Sugar Company are not anxious for us to give away any figures about the individual workings of the factories here.

It appears that questions asked in relation to the Sugar Company or any of the factories are not being answered by the Minister. Why are these questions allowed on the Order Paper if we cannot get a reply?

I have explained to Deputies on many occasions that the Chair has no control over how questions are answered.

The Chair can decide whether questions are allowed on the Order Paper.

They are in order to appear on the Order Paper, otherwise they would not appear.

This is not a new approach to Question Time. Such detailed information is not given if there is a possibility that it would give competitive advantage to a firm in the same line of business.

As regards sugar production in Europe what percentage does Irish sugar account for?

I do not have that information but I will supply it to the Deputy.

We are departing from the question. We cannot give way to every good idea that comes into Deputies' heads at Question Time.

The Minister said there was an over-supply of sugar in the European market. I hope he is not suggesting it is the Irish producers——

I did not say that.

The Minister might give that impression. The Minister is wrong when he gives the impression that Irish sugar producers are to blame for the over-production in Europe.

I do not want to give that impression. I will supply the information the Deputy asked for.

(Limerick West): Is the Minister aware that giving information regarding the number of people employed in the factories could not be regarded as giving away secrets?

That information would have been given had it been sought.

(Limerick West): It is sought in the question.

I see the latter part of the question does ask for "numbers employed". I will supply that information to the Deputy.