asked the Minister for Finance when the River Dee in County Louth will be drained.

The Glyde and Dee catchment drainage scheme was completed in 1957. The completed scheme works are maintained in accordance with the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. Maintenance works were carried out on the Dee in 1984 in the areas around Drumcar, White river and Gara river, but the Dee is not included in the maintenance programme for 1985.

A simple question — why not?

That is a perfect supplementary question. It is the kind of supplementary that should be put.

The Deputy asked me, again — ?

The Minister does not understand that supplementary.

Why is the River Dee not involved?

It is not included because certain maintenance was done on that river last year which the commissioners considered met the requirements of that area during 1985. I would point out that we do what is necessary. The local authority have to pay for this work and we do not do more than we think is necessary to keep the river flowing normally.

Flow gently, Sweet Afton.

We are now moving into priority questions. I am thinking of getting Deputy Kirk's supplementary stencilled and sent out as an example of how these should be framed.

Well done.

I shall be very brief. On priority questions, a lacuna is involved in the recent order made establishing them. Deputy O'Kennedy is not in the country and I understand that, although he is absent, nobody else can stand in his place and ask supplementary questions. There seems to be a gap in the system.

There may be and that can be rethought. Action can be taken if it is so decided by the parties.

Would the Chair not think about it right now?

No, Deputy. It is for the parties. I do not think this is accidental; it was quite deliberate.

It does create a wrong situation.