asked the Taoiseach the monthly index of employees in the building industry in October 1980; and the figure for the same month in 1979.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers - Building Industry Employment.
24.
The monthly Index of Employees in the building industry (to base 1975=100) was provisionally estimated as 95.8 in October 1980. The corresponding figure for October 1979 was 100.2.
However it should be noted that this index is currently undergoing revision in the light of the recent results of the labour force estimates for the building and construction sector. The revised series will be published shortly.
Would the Minister agree that the revision will not make any difference to the trend disclosed in his reply?
I should prefer to wait until I see the revised series before answering that question.
Can the Minister say how, with drops in both the sale of cement and in the number of people employed in the building industry, statistics seem to show that there were more houses built last year than in previous years? Can he explain that?
Again, I think it is a separate question. If the Deputy puts down a question asking how many houses were built we will give the answer.
The Minister would prefer not to answer — is that what he means?
No, I would love to answer.
Would the Minister agree that his answers to Question No. 24 and previous questions is a record of the worst Government performance this country has ever known?
That is not a question.
It is a question.