Can the Minister give the House any idea as to the reasons for such a massive number of liquidations and closures, the total number of jobs lost and if he has any details as to whether it was the Revenue Commissioners or the banks who were responsible for the closures? Surely, he should have that information.

(Limerick East): It is very difficult to relate liquidations or receiverships to job losses. It does not necessarily follow that because you have a large number of liquidations that you have a large number of job losses. In 1983, there were 522 liquidations; in 1984, 584 and in 1985, 632. In that context, 384 liquidations to date this year is not a massive number of liquidations.

Of course, it is.

(Limerick East): There were 136 receiverships in 1983; 112 in 1984; 165 in 1985 and 58 so far in 1986. Therefore, it does not bear out the conclusions the Deputy draws. I would like to point out that in the United States whose economy is very buoyant at present they have never had as many liquidations. It does not necessarily follow that an economy is going down when you have liquidations. Very often, when people are trying to establish new businesses there are many liquidations.

I will allow Deputy MacSharry one final question.

As the Minister responsible for industrial promotion and for employment——

A question Deputy.

——he must be in a position to inform the House from any objective assessment he has done as to what are the continuing reasons for the huge job losses, closures and liquidations. He must have some reasons or else he is not doing the job he is intended to do.

That seems to be a separate question.

It is relevant to the question.

It may flow from this question but it is a separate one.

We want to know the information. The Minister who is responsible is in the House and he should tell us what is the position or is this going to continue?

(Limerick East): If the Deputy wants on one of his frequent visits from Europe to put down a question I will answer it.

Enough of the cynicism.

The Minister should answer what he is supposed to.

(Limerick East): I do not think it is courteous to other Deputies that the Deputy should piggy back on somebody else's question.

I must move on. I am not going to allow——

You are the man responsible for order in this House——

I am trying to maintain that order.

Would you inform the Minister that every Deputy in this House has the same rights to ask questions. For his information he is not too long in it but he seems to know an awful lot about nothing.

(Limerick East): If the Deputy puts down a question about this matter I will answer it.

I am passing on to the next question and I will not listen to any Member.

The reason the Minister does not answer the question is that he is responsible for many of the blunders.