asked the Minister for Communications if he has any plans to request An Post to issue a stamp to commemorate the holding of the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

15.

asked the Minister for Communications if he has any plans to request An Post to issue a stamp to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the discovery by Europeans of the Americas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 15 together.

The 1992 programme of special and commemorative stamps will be decided on the basis of proposals to be submitted by An Post. When I receive those proposals I will bear the Deputy's suggestions in mind.

May I ask the Minister, who is standing in for the Minister for Communications to communicate, no pun intended, to the Minister in question the text of these questions, rather than wait for proposals from An Post, so that they might include it in their programme for 1992?

In any event I think they will take note of what the Deputy is saying here today. There is no difficulty communicating the text of the questions to them. The normal procedure in the annual programme of special and commemorative stamps is that the philately advisory committee recommend subjects to An Post who then examine the committee's report and submit a draft programme to the Minister for his consideration and following consultation with other Ministers, the Minister for Communications submits proposals to the Government. There are various stages at which the Deputy's proposal can be taken on board. It is important that we consider proposals such as the Deputy's. We have been doing fairly well in this area.

I might mention that Ireland recently won a gold medal in the Olympics for stamps. The International Olympic Committee awarded a gold medal for the Irish stamp which was produced in conjunction with the 1988 Olympics for an equestrian stamp. The award which was presented in September 1989 will eventually be on display in the GPO when suitable security can be arranged. It is one area in which we appear to have been fairly successful. I will certainly pass on the Deputy's views.

Question No. 10, please.

I am delighted to hear that we have won a gold medal in the Olympics; it may come as a surprise to most of us. May I ask the Minister to ensure that that winning streak is maintained by ensuring that the initiative is taken at an early stage to request them to respond in the manner of my questions?

As I have mentioned, it is a systematic approach which is adopted.

There is no problem with the Deputy's ideas being submitted at an early stage. There is no problem about having the Europe and the Americas — the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America — considered and we will pass the Deputy's ideas on. I know some Kerry Deputies might feel that St. Brendan got to America first, but I am sure they too will be magnanimous on the occasion.

Question No. 10 please. Let us make some progress on other questions.

Let us get on to Justice questions.

The Chair administers the rules of this House. Do you want to change the rules? That is your prerogative.