asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with the allocations to Ireland decided upon in the draft budget for 1986 under the Regional and Social Funds; and if Ireland's needs are being adequately provided for in the context of increased payments to Spain and Portugal on the enlargement of the Community.

Ireland's allocation from the Regional and Social Funds from the 1986 Community budget will be determined, in the first instance, by the global provisions for these funds in that budget. The amounts agreed in Council by a qualified majority — not including Ireland — fell short of those proposed by the Commission. The Commission had sought provisions for those funds which, after making an appropriate provision for Spain and Portugal, would have allowed, for the Community of Ten, a repetition in real terms, broadly speaking, of the 1985 figures.

I may say that I regard the provisions for these funds agreed by Council for 1986 as inadequate to meet the needs of the enlarged Community. I might add that the budget subsequently voted unilaterally by the European Parliament, the legality of which is in dispute, goes some way to meet our preoccupations.

While one can welcome the fact that the Minister regards what is being done from European budget sources as inadequate for Ireland, can we expect from this Minister and this Government the same effective outcome as the Greek Government, for instance, achieved in negotiating a special package? Can we expect from this Government the same spread of resources to this deprived part of the Community as is now being allocated under Regional and Social Funds to the Mediterranean area? Can we expect from this Government in the EC negotiations anything more than words? Is there any hope that we may see some performance as well? It is nice to hear the Minister say that he thinks it is inadequate. Other Governments have got results when he failed.

It is a matter of some sadness that Deputy O'Kennedy, who spent some time in the Commission of the EC, appears not to have learned anything while he was there. The agreement that was reached on the Regional Fund allocation includes in it a Commission statement for the Council minutes which reads as follows: "In the context of the conclusions of the European Council, which was held in Brussels on 29 and 30 March 1985, the Commission can guarantee to the less prosperous member states that in 1986 they will be able to receive ERDF assistance at least equal to the guaranteed minimum for 1985."

That conclusion of the European Council was brought about as a direct result of initiatives undertaken by the Taoiseach and by this Government precisely in order to guarantee the position as it has been set out there. The results that we have come to this year will meet that. Assistance will be at least equal to the guaranteed minimum for 1985. I stress the words "at least". Deputy O'Kennedy knows enough about the way decisions are made there to read the meaning of those words without asking it in public.

I do not wish to make any comment on the Minister's attitude as he choses to make it in respect of me. I ask him now how he can reconcile what he has said in his reply, that these funds are inadequate, with the presentation he has now given to the House that the recommendations of the Commission were satisfactory. Will he put it in plain language? Are the Government going to accept it or not?

I have said that I regard the provisions for the funds agreed by the Council for 1986 as inadequate to meet the needs of the enlarged Community. It is perfectly consistent with that to say that I am quite happy that in those circumstances we have the guarantee to which I have referred. There is no inconsistency between the two.

The Minister has a guarantee of inadequate funds?