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.