Question No. 3.

Is the Taoiseach available to come into the House to discuss this matter?

We had all that before, Deputy, and we should not start this session with another instalment. I have no control over who answers the question. It is common practice for Ministers of State to answer questions.

(Dún Laoghaire): I can assure the Deputy that the quality of my reply is just as good.

I have no doubt about that but because the Taoiseach made this a major issue in his Ard Fheis address it is incumbent on him at least to come into the House to discuss this matter.

Deputy Fahey ——

Could I therefore ask ——

(Dún Laoghaire): The question relates purely to statistics.

——that this question remain on the Order Paper until such time as the Taoiseach comes to this House to discuss it? The Chair will agree this is a question of major importance——

We had all that before in the last session.

We will have it all again.

If the Minister wishes to answer the question now he can and if he wishes to postpone it he can do so.

I am asking that it be postponed.