In view of what the Minister said, that the submission has not been made to the EEC, will he accept additional submissions?

No, I said the time for submissions is over.

Let me then ask the Minister to clarify the position in relation to his Minister of State who recently visited Kilkenny and indicated there that he was prepared to accept additional submissions.

Maybe at that time he was quite right in saying so. I am saying today the submissions have closed.

In view of the reply given by the Minister and what was said by his Minister of State in Kilkenny, it is obvious that people are being misled in this scheme and that a window-dressing job is being done.

Not at all. The question which was raised in Kilkenny with the Minister of State could well have been included since then.

(Limerick West): Will the Minister indicate to the House the date on which he decided to exclude any further submissions? Is it today, yesterday?

It was in recent days.

(Limerick West): Can he say exactly which date?

If I am asked such questions——

(Limerick West): Two Deputies from this side have indicated that the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture has stated that further submissions for inclusion in the disadvantaged areas can be made. The Minister here has said that no further submissions can be accepted. I cannot reconcile those two decisions.

That is comment.

(Limerick West): I want the Minister to indicate when it was decided to exclude further submissions. Was it yesterday, today, last week?

I said it was in the last few days. Incidentally, only one Deputy, Deputy Aylward, mentioned that matter.