Will the Minister tell the House the proportion of arrests and detentions under this heading made under the Offences Against the State Act? The Minister has told the House that the Act is being applied in such cases.

The question is about the Misuse of Drugs Act.

It is about arrests.

We must move on. Does Deputy De Rossa wish to put a question to the Minister?

The Minister in the course of her reply said that the Offences Against the State Act applies to the statistics.

The Minister could tell the Deputy what she thought might win the next race at Cheltenham but it would not be in order. It would be very far out of order but not much further than the question the Deputy is asking.

The question relates to statistics. Many of the people have been arrested under the Offences Against the State Act and I am asking the Minister for statistics in relation to that.

The question deals with the Misuse of Drugs Act and I am not allowing the Deputy to put this question. I want to get some order into the proceedings.

Is the Chair aware of what is happening outside? These are legitimate questions.

The Minister mentioned the Offences Against the State Act because that Act is used in most of these cases. This is ridiculous.

I have called Deputy De Rossa.

In regard to the Minister's comments on the Offences Against the State Act, the Minister will be aware that one out of every nine arrests under section 30 of that Act——

I have ruled such a question out of order.

I am leading into my question.

People are arrested under that Act and the Minister has said so. If the Ceann Comhairle is going to participate in the debate I suggest that he listen to the Minister's reply.

Why is it that we will not be allowed to listen to the Minister's reply?

May I put the remainder of my question to the Minister?

I must be consistent. I have already disallowed a similar question.

I am relating my question to the query I put about the Misuse of Drugs Act. The question is about statistics.

I have disallowed a question about the Offences Against the State Act.

My question is not about that Act. The Minister referred to the use of that Act in the course of her reply and I am making the point that one out of every nine arrests under that Act result in a court case.

That is not a question.

I am making the point that there is not such information available on the use of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Does the Minister not consider that such information would be important in the use of the Misuse of Drugs Act so that we could know whether it is effective, whether the people taken in under suspicion are legitimately detained or whether the Garda have sufficient powers or whatever? Statistics of this type are important.

It raises the difficulty of getting such detailed statistics. As a general proposition a compilation of statistics, even from a current base, is time-consuming work for the Garda Síochána.

They could instal computers.

It involves a diversion of manpower both at local and central level from the primary duty of the force. This would be very detailed. The position in relation to statistics of arrest will be reviewed when the Criminal Justice Bill, which gives a limited power of detention, comes into operation.

Does the Minister accept the need for statistics under the Misuse of Drugs Act?