May I comment? Local authorities pride themselves in the fact that all their proceedings whether on finances, the estimates or business generally are by way of open discussion. In other words, the press of the world can be there to listen and learn. Here, I am glad to say, is a further attempt to continue that good work of open discussion. The Minister is clearly saying that the Minister for Finance shall lay before each House of the Oireachtas "a statement in accordance with subsection (2) of this section". In other words, everybody will know what is happening. It is not being hidden and I welcome the fact that this is so.
Local Loans Fund (Amendment) Bill, 1987 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Final Stages.
Section 1 agreed to.
SECTION 2.
Question proposed: "That section 2 stand part of the Bill."
Could I ask the Minister to clarify again how this section will be implemented? He made reference to the fact that discussions are ongoing between officials of Departments and local authorities and that he felt he could give assurances that local authorities would not be adversely affected, that there would not be undue delay and that local authorities were sometimes guilty of delays themselves. How will this measure be implemented with the minimum of disruption to the financing of local authorities with no impact adversely or otherwise on their cash flow situation which is already precarious?
I will deal very briefly with the point made by Senator Fallon. It is a very relevant point and I am glad to have an opportunity to put it on the record that we are not trying to avoid any questions that might be raised. The reason for this section is that there are about 15,000 loans and it would be impractical and would serve little purpose to oblige the Minister to supply the Oireachtas with details of each loan written off. That is the position. What we will be doing under this section is, in relation to each category, housing, sanitary services, etc., giving the number of loans written off, the total amount advanced on such loans, the total amount of principal being waived and the total amount of interest being waived. That will be done periodically under group headings under this section and laid before each House of the Oireachtas.
On Senator Bulbulia's point, the intention is that as 1 January is reached we will not make any demands on local authorities from here on and in the course of the year we will be writing off the loans. That is the way it will proceed during 1988. We could spend hours going into detail in relation to any loan to any local authority. The administrative process which will be implemented through the Department of the Environment and the local authorities on the one hand and the Department of Finance on the other will be designed to ensure that no local authority is worse off and equally, to ensure that the Exchequer is not any worse off.
Question put and agreed to.
Sections 3 and 4 agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill reported without recommendation, received for final consideration and passed.