Let me return to the Minister's official reply which, would he not agree, and I do not for one moment want to suggest this to him, could be construed that he is evading a reply in this House, if not misleading it, by failing to factually answer the question which was put down by Deputy Clohessy which is a factual arithmetic question to which the Department of the Environment in the Custom House either have the answer or are refusing to offer it? Is it not a fact that when domestic rates were abolished in 1977 an explicit commitment was made, that the balance would be maintained on an annual basis in line with inflation? The Minister's Department must know the answer to that question and frankly, he is failing to give the information to which we are entitled in this House.

The Minister is in no way trying to mislead the House and it is not his intention to do so. I am giving the Deputy the information which is available to me by way of my brief. If he had asked a specific question as to the financing which has been available and if he had asked me about the figures which are involved in the supplementary welfare scheme in 1986 I could have given him all those figures but that was not part of the question.

On a point of order, it is rare that a Minister is accused of not providing information which he has available. As the Minister who was responsible for the SWA change, which was negotiated in 1985 between the Department of Finance and the Minister's Department, with profound respect, I can say he knows precisely the information which is involved. I therefore suggest——

That is not a point of order.

Is he aware that the Department of Finance have the information?

I deprecate the pretence of a point of order on Question Time.

The Deputy rose on a point of order and has proceeded to make a speech. This is not in order.

Could the Minister please give us the information he has available? I am sure it is in his brief.

The Deputies are quite entitled to any information that I have in my brief and I would be more than happy to give it to them but I suggest, as was outlined in the question, that it is problematical to try to bring all those figures together nine years after the matter has been——

This is not the way to start your ministerial career.

Order. Deputies, if you want to debate this issue you must find another time to do so. I am now proceeding to deal——

A Cheann Comhairle——

Sorry, Deputy, as soon as the Minister concludes I am proceeding to the next question.

A Cheann Comhairle, I beg your indulgence——

I beg your pardon, Deputy, I have stated my position on the matter. Has the Minister anything further to say?

I would just like to say this——

A Cheann Comhairle, may I raise the matter on the Adjournment?

I will communicate with Deputy Desmond in regard to that request. Question No. 8.

Unfortunately, it will be at 11 p.m. tonight.