asked the Taoiseach in respect of his recent visit to the United States, the costs to the State involved in the use of the Smurfit Corporation executive jet for travel between Ireland and the United States and within the United States.

A charge of £21,469.76 was made by Avjet Corporation for the use of an executive jet for travel between Ireland and the United States and within the United States. This amount was slightly in excess of the cost of scheduled flights for the official party of six involved.

I thank the Taoiseach for that information but would he not agree that the impression created by a particular public corporation facilitating the head of Government of this sovereign republic is misleading and open to misinterpretation, and that, perhaps in future, he should take whatever course of action is open to him to prevent such misleading information——

This is essentially a statistical question and policy matters do not arise therefrom.

On the other hand, a Cheann Comhairle, I am very glad to learn that the Deputy was other than mischievous in putting down this question, which unfortunately I attributed to him until I heard his explanation just now. The press reports about the incident were really no responsibility of mine but I am glad that the Deputy and I have now cleared up the matter between us for the benefit of the general public.

In view of the reply the Taoiseach gave to Deputy Quinn about the total cost of the use of the executive jet can I ask if he intended a saving in landing fees at Shannon when he did not get his aircraft——

I thought the Deputy had a serious question to submit.

I am delighted the Deputy raised that question because I did more for Shannon a couple of Sundays ago than the Deputy has done in his whole lifetime.

Ceist a 7.