It is proposed to take No. 6. It is also proposed that all Stages of No. 6 if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 4.30 p.m. by one Question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only amendments set down by the Minister for Justice.
Order of Business.
May I ask if the proposal in respect of dealing with item No. 6 is agreed? Agreed.
On the Order of Business, is the Taoiseach, or perhaps the Minister for the Environment, in a position to indicate to the House when the legislation to give effect to the national roads authority will be introduced?
Not this session.
Why not?
It is being prepared but will not be available this session.
The Government have been working on it for two years.
It is a very large legislative programme. It is as well to deal with the matter now rather than have the Opposition asking every week.
This is typical arrogance from this Minister. It is now creeping into this Government at a ferocious rate. We are entitled to ask a question on it every week if we so wish. Let the Minister not forget that.
It beats departures, from which the Opposition are suffering.
Let the Opposition take their time.
(Interruptions.)
I call Deputy Birmingham.
Arrogance.
Order, please.
I am entitled to ask about this.
Withdrawal symptoms.
Deputy Barrett might allow his colleague who is in possession to proceed.
Since frankness appears to be the order of the day——
I will hold Minister O'Kennedy's hand next time he goes to Brussels.
I will be there longer than Deputy Barrett. I can tell him that.
In relation to the legislation for the RTCs, I asked sometime ago about this matter and was told it was being dealt with expeditiously. Will the Minister now put us out of our misery and tell us if we will see it before Easter or before the summer recess?
Deputy Birmingham asked last week so expedition has various degrees of expedition.
Most illuminating.
May I suggest to the Minister that she could take a leaf out of her colleague's book and answer that simple question? Does she expect that it will be before the House before the summer recess?
I am not in a position to tell the House that, but when I am I shall do so. The preparation of the legislation is proceeding in consultation with all the interested parties.