asked the Minister for the Environment the names of all the representatives of central Government, including his own Department and other Government Departments, who participated in discussions with private sector interests regarding participation in infrastructural projects including toll roads and bridges; and if the local authorities, who are the road authority in each instance, have been made aware of these discussions or have been invited to participate.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Infrastructural Project Discussions.
26.
At the initiative of my predecessor, Deputy Barrett, then Minister for the Environment, two meetings were held for this purpose with private sector interests in August and September 1980. With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report a list of the names of departmental officials who attended the meetings. Subsequently, a committee was set up by the Minister for Finance to develop the proposals for private sector investment.
Regarding the final part of the question, my Department have consulted with the Dublin and Cork City Managers on the question of multi-storey car-parks and possible toll schemes.
Attendance at meeting in the Conference Centre of An Foras Forbartha, St. Martin's House, on 28th August, 1980—S. Barrett, T.D. (Minister for the Environment); S. O'Hanlon, A. McDonald, S. Feely, E. Lewis, N. Corcoran (Department of the Environment); J. Cantrell, P. O'hUiginn (Department of An Taoiseach); T. O'Connor (Department of Finance).
Attendance at meeting in Conference Room, O'Connell Bridge House on 30th September, 1980—S. O'Hanlon, P. Duffy, W. McDonald, G. Maher (Department of the Environment); P. O'hUiginn (Department of An Taoiseach); T. O'Connor (Department of Finance).
The local authorities to which I referred in both instances were not the county manager or the city manager. Am I right in assuming that this major change in Government policy in the financing of infrastructural requirements is being undertaken without the local authorities, the elected representatives, being consulted in any way at this stage?
As I said, the Dublin and Cork City Managers were consulted.
Am I right in taking it that the Government-appointed managers of Dublin and Cork cities have been consulted but the elected representatives of those local authorities have been kept deliberately in the dark?
I have no doubt the city managers will inform their members of the negotiations.
Is the Minister telling the House that he does not know whether the elected representatives were involved and that he is expressing doubt about this matter?
I have no doubt that the Dublin and Cork City Managers will discuss this matter with the councillors.
May I ask the Minister——
I have been very fair to the House——
You are not being very fair to the elected members of local authorities who are——
I allowed the Deputy three supplementaries on this question. Question No. 27 is for written reply.