I have given permission to Deputy Hyland to raise the matter of the setting up of a special drugs squad to work within the existing structure of the Customs and Excise.

I am afraid there is some mistake in relation to the subject matter of the question I wish to raise. I gave notice today that I wished to raise the subject matter of Question No. 375 of 7 April relating to the appointment of a paediatrician in Portlaoise General Hospital.

I clearly recollect that Deputy Hyland gave notice by reference to a question on the Order Paper. It seems that from there on communications must have broken down.

I have no desire to enter into any kind of argument.

I suggest that Deputy Hyland raise the matter with me again tomorrow as the relevant Department are not in a position to deal with his question.

I appreciate the difficulty the Chair has but I would like to express my disappointment. I did refer to the reference number of the question concerned and the date on which it was originally raised. I also referred specifically to the subject matter.

I appreciate the frustration of the Deputy on this matter but it is a question of the human element entering into it. If the Deputy raises the question tomorrow I will bear in mind what happened this evening.

I accept that.

Will the Chair agree to proceed with the debate as it is the Minister for Finance who will have to pay for the paediatrician?

I could not entertain that suggestion.

The Dáil adjourned at 8.30 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 11 April 1984.