I must protest that Priority Questions have taken 22 minutes. I should like to ask the Chair to be more consistent.

The Chair does his best, he seeks the co-operation of Deputies in disposing of Questions but cannot dispose of them.

Yesterday the Chair cut me off in mid-stream.

I had a Priority Question tabled but as a result of the Minister taking six questions with Deputy Mitchell's Priority Question I have been deprived of the right to express my views or to ask supplementary questions on my Priority Question. That is most unfair. My question should be treated now as an ordinary question.

Standing Orders prescribe that there shall be 15 minutes to deal with Priority Questions. The Chair consistently brings this to the notice of Members when we are dealing with Priority Questions. We have exceeded the time available under Standing Orders by more than five minutes.

I welcome the points of view of the Labour Party and Fine Gael who may now sympathise with The Workers' Party who have been excluded from Priority Questions virtually every second day.

By virtue of the number of Members they have.

If it is found that the time available for Priority Questions is insufficient or inadequate the House is supreme in such matters and may decide to extend the time. The Chair is obliged to adhere to Standing Orders.

To allot 22 minutes to Priority Questions is not being fair.

The Chair has shown great latitude and when he gives latitude he is castigated by other Members.

We want equal treatment.

My request is that my Priority Question should be treated as a normal question and is not to provide a flag of convenience for Deputy Rabbitte.

The position of the Chair should be very clear to the Deputy. Let us proceed with ordinary questions and No. 15 in the name of Deputy Moynihan.

May I raise a point of order?

The Deputy should permit us to proceed with the questions. Has not the Chair explained the position clearly?

I appreciate the pressures the Chair is under and I also appreciate the pressures the Minister is under. He has successfully avoided the last Priority Question.

I would be glad to reply to it. I did not prepare Standing Orders.

When will that question be answered?

The Deputy may obtain a written reply to that question.