In view of the continuing job losses in manufacturing industry over the past four years and the consequent job losses in the services sector will the Minister indicate the proposals, if any, he may be considering? I put down a question asking "which are being considered by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Job Creation to redress the situation". The reply I received to my question was that the Minister has no official responsibility to the Dáil in relation to this matter. Could I now ask the Minister what proposals he has, if any, to arrest the loss of Jobs in manufacturing industry and the services sector over the past four years?

(Limerick East): I have replied in detail to the three elements of the question put down by the Deputy. If now he has decided that it is different information to a different question he requires, he should put down a different question.

With all due respects to the Minister, I did put down the question but the answer I was given was that the Minister has no responsibility to the Dáil in relation to job creation and what proposals the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Job Creation have given. It is a very serious matter that the Minister has no responsibility on anything that is going on in the Cabinet Sub-Committee——

The Deputy should not refer to a decision of the Chair and an explanation given by the Chair.

I have no wish to show any disrespect to any of your rulings.

I am advising the Deputy of what the position is.

I accept your advice unreservedly. The continuing loss of jobs as outlined by the Minister in the figures he has given must be the cause of some concern for all of us and I am asking the Minister what proposals he has, if any, to redress that situation?

That is a separate question.