asked the Taoiseach if he will state the unemployment rate for Ireland as at the latest available date; and the comparable figure for the EC as a whole.

The Statistical Office of the European Communities publishes a monthly bulletin of statistics relating to registered unemployment in the member states. The latest issue refers to the end of April and shows an unemployment rate of 17.6 per cent for Ireland. The overall figure for all ten member states as a whole is shown as 10.9 per cent.

Will the Minister of State comment on the fact that the European percentage is 10.9 and that the Irish percentage is 17.6?

That is not a question for this Minister.

Will the Minister of State confirm that the 17.6 per cent puts us at the top of the European league?

I cannot confirm that. The overall figure for all ten member states as a whole is 10.9 per cent.

It is 17 per cent in Ireland.

The Statistical Office of the European Communities uses a slightly different comparison. It is 17.6 per cent. As far as our own national figures are concerned the mid-April figures was 17 per cent. The EC uses the 1983 figures as the base and here the estimated figure of the total labour force for 1985 is used as the base. In the European context it is the civilian working population but in Ireland it is the total workforce.

I appreciate that the Minister of State is trying to be helpful but I am trying to highlight the fact that throughout Europe unemployment is 10 per cent and here it is 17 per cent. The difficulties faced by Ireland are not that different from the difficulties faced by Europe.

I hope the Deputy is trying to get information.

I want to underline the significance of this information.

That could be a matter for a speech and I have no doubt the Deputy will try to make it.

The rate is 17 per cent versus 10 per cent. It highlights the fact that Government policies are not working.