asked the Minister for Finance the number of customs and excise officials employed at (a) Cork Airport, (b) Shannon Airport, and (c) Dublin Airport.

The numbers of customs and excise staff employed at the locations mentioned in the question are (a) Cork Airport — 17; (b) Shannon Airport — 50; and (c) Dublin Airport — 112.

Has there been a change in the staffing arrangements at Dublin Airport, particularly at weekends, arising from cutbacks?

That is a separate question.

The question asked about the number of customs and excise officials employed. The implication in that question is if there is a sufficient number of officials to carry out their job effectively and efficiently. I am suggesting that because of the cutbacks in the budget there are not sufficient numbers of staff available to carry out their task.

I have no information that would indicate that the situation is as the Deputy suggests. The numbers of staff at the three airports would be broadly in proportion to the number of passengers arriving at those airports. I have had no indications that the service they provide is less than adequate.

Has there been any change in the staffing arrangements, particularly at weekends, at Dublin Airport arising from Ministers' budgetary decision to cut back on this service?

This is a very general question and it would not be in order to go into detail.

I just want to know the number of staff employed. This is a statistical question and I was asking about the numbers on duty at weekends at Dublin Airport. I wanted to know if sufficient officers were employed to do the job effectively and efficiently because the weekends are the busiest times.

This is a statistical question.

Surely the follow-on query should be if there is a sufficient number of officers employed to do the job properly. I am suggesting that the number is not sufficient——

The question does not even contain the usual formula asking the Minister to make a statement.

Is the Minister aware that under the customs and excise regulations and instructions, officials operating at these airports are not empowered to take a cheque even from a Member of this House? This practice should be changed immediately.

This is one of the reasons Question Time is getting out of hand. All sorts of hares are raised in relation to the original question——

I raised this question in the interest of every Member of this House. I am sure the Minister would not like to be embarrassed if a customs officer refused to take his cheque if he were collecting goods for one of his constituents. Does the Minister agree with me?

The Deputy may put down a question——

My constituents have no difficulty looking after their own affairs.

I am saying that the customs and excise officials would not accept a cheque from a Member of this House.