asked the Minister for Justice the number of those convicted for unlawful possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply who received prison sentences of five years or more in each of the last six years for which figures are available.

(Limerick East): The answer is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

The statement is as follows:

Deputy D. Andrews rose.

Bear with me for a moment, please. I must make it clear that there are no supplementary questions on tabular statements and that has been accepted by the House.

Is this a convention?

It goes back Several years, probably before you or I came into the House.

I have been here for over 20 years and I have asked questions arising from answers in the form of tabular statements.

It took me a long time to enforce the ruling. I had a long and learned discussion with the leader of your party and I am sure he will confirm what I am saying.

The same applied in the case of Question No. 3 and supplementaries were allowed.

I know, but it was not answered by way of tabular statement.

If the Minister gave the figures in relation to question No. 3, surely he could give them in relation to this question?

The chair has no control——

Do not get me wrong. I am not challenging the Chair, but I should like to know where this ruling suddenly came from? Is it a mushroom ruling——

I do not know whether the Deputy is aware of the fact that there is a book of rulings available and I suggest that he studies it.

Could you indicate the section which I should study?

I think there is an index to it.

Where will I look at this rule?

I have dealt with this on a previous occasion and I will not take up the time of the House with a rehash on the subject. I am ruling now——

Now?

I am ruling again that supplementary questions are not allowed on a question answered by way of tabular statement.

With respect, I intend bringing this matter to the attention of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

That is in order and is a very nice way of dealing with it.

I fully accept your ruling but why in two succeeding questions in similar form was one answered in the normal manner but in the second, for no apparent reason, the information was given in tabular form, thereby preventing supplementaries from being asked?

I do not know, as the Chair has no control over the way in which questions are answered. I have a discretion in regard to supplementary questions and I am exercising it, as my predecessors have done.

I do not accept your ruling and I intend pursuing it. However, I am not challenging it, so do not become too sensitive——

It is not good enough to say that you are not challenging my ruling——

I am not accepting it.

As long as you obey it I do not mind.

I accept your ruling, but could you advise the House of the circumstances in which questions can be answered by way of a tabular statement? Who makes the decision as to whether a question will be answered by a tabular statement?

I am cutting this short now. Standing Order No. 35 (2) states:

Where a Question put down for oral answer is of such a nature as to require a lengthy reply or a reply in the form of a tabular statement, the Ceann Comhairle shall, at the request of the member of the Government to whom the Question is addressed, direct that the answer be furnished in the Official Report of the Debates.

I will not have a discussion on this matter.

With the greatest respect, that is not related to asking for a response to a question answered by way of tabular statement.

It directs the Chair——

To allow the Minister——

Not alone will the Deputy not accept my ruling but he will not allow me to address the House. It is intolerable.

I am sorry.