With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together. Although I have not fully completed my review of matters relating to the questions raised by the Deputy, I have made sufficient progress to be convinced that it is neither necessary nor desirable to establish a State-sponsored body or agency to administer the Government's development assistance programme.
At the same time I feel, and indeed have held this view for some time, that there is a strong case to be made for the setting-up of an Advisory Council on Development Co-operation. I am at the moment, therefore, considering how best such an advisory council might be constituted with a view to putting a proposal to the Government on its establishment as soon as possible. In this regard, and as the advice which may be tendered by the proposed council could well concern Ministers other than myself, I have sought the views of relevant Cabinet colleagues on the question. I hope very shortly also to hold discussions with groups outside Government, including the voluntary agencies, in order to proceed with as broad a consensus as possible on what, in my view, would be a most significant step for development co-operation in Ireland.