asked the Taoiseach the percentage by which unemployment as a proportion of the labour force has increased in Ireland since 1982; and if he will state the figures for other EC countries.

Dún Laoghaire): The Statistical Office of the European Communities publishes a monthly bulletin of statistics relating to registered unemployment in the member states.

I propose to circulate a statement showing the unemployment rates for all the member states at the end of December 1982 and at the end of April 1985. The percentage increase in the rates over the period is also shown.

Following is the statement:

1 As in the Monthly Bulletin published on 20 January 1984.

* The "civilian working population" is the total labour force excluding members of the armed forces. The "Explanatory Notes" in the bulletin indicate that differing national legislation and administrative procedures result in the data being suitable only for the analysis of trends and not for inter-country comparisons of the absolute levels of unemployment. Problems of comparability are particularly acute in the case of the unemployment figures for Greece.

Is the Minister of State aware that the unemployment rate in Ireland is now 18 per cent while the average for Europe is 10 per cent? I want to know if the Government are aware of that.

The Minister has complicated matters. I had succeeded in getting accepted a ruling that, when a question is answered by way of tabular statement, there would be no supplementaries allowed. That has been accepted but, of course, the Minister said a few words and then referred to the tabular statement. In this case the substantive answer is in the form of a tabular statement and there are no supplementaries.

Seeing that I have not the tabular statement might I ask the Minister of State——

We have ruled out supplementaries. No, Deputy.

If it shows——

That is the sort of thing I am against.

If it shows the EC average as against the Irish average?

I am not dealing with this particular question. I am dealing with questions that are answered by way of tabular statement.

All I wanted to know is, does it mean that the tabular statement shows——

I had a discussion with the leader of your party and I referred him to rulings of my predecessors. Eventually my ruling was accepted and has been accepted now for some time. Please, Deputy, do not reopen the matter.

If I have not the opportunity of raising this important matter for six months, if the tabular statement does not show——

You can raise it anywhere you like when you get your tabular statement.

I know what you will say to me, Sir, when I try to raise it.

I have ruled, Deputy Reynolds.

The average for Ireland is 40.2 per cent as against 21.3 per cent for the EC. I want to know from the Minister of State is that what his tabular statement shows, because those are the latest statistics available from the EC?

Supplementary questions are allowed for the purpose of clarifying answers given by Ministers. The Minister has given no answer here yet. He has given it by way of a tabular statement to be circulated with the Official Report and there are no supplementary questions.