asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism when he intends to publish the report of the Restrictive Practices Commission on competition between travel agents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Competition Between Travel Agents.
14.
I would hope to be in a position to publish the commission's report in the near future. I will then make a statement on the matter.
How does the Minister reconcile what is understood to be the recommendations in this report with the provisions of the Air Transport Bill which is before the House at present?
Until the report is published and the Government have reached a decision on it I would not attempt to reconcile it with anything.
The Minister does not have to reach decisions on it. I am simply asking him how he reconciles the provisions of the Bill with the findings and recommendations of the report which has remained unpublished for quite a long period. How does he feel that the Bill can be proceeded with by the Government in the light of the recommendations which are believed to exist in the report?
The Deputy is inaccurate in one respect — I do have to make a decision on the report, as to whether to act on it. That decision will be taken by me in conjunction with the Government. Until such time as that decision is taken, I do not propose to attempt to reconcile it or to indicate a divergence between it and other proposals.
When does the Minister propose to publish it?
The report was received by me in the middle of July. With the maximum of haste I had the report and proposals contained in it circulated to my colleagues in Government with a view to coming to a decision. We will be in a position to have a Government decision on the matter fairly soon but I am not keen to get engaged in discussions as to whether it will be two weeks, four weeks or longer.
Does the Minister intend to wait until the passage of the Air Transport Bill, 1984, through the Houses of the Oireachtas before he publishes a report?
No, it is proceeding independently to Government for a decision and will not be influenced by any other matter in so far as the time at which it will be considered by the Government is concerned.
In view of the fact that the two matters are tied up with one another, will the Minister undertake that the Government would not proceed with Committee Stage of the Bill until the publication of this report, to enable the House to examine the matter thoroughly with the benefit of the report and recommendations?
I do not propose nor am I in a position to give an undertaking of the nature sought by the Deputy. However, I am anxious to bring the report to the Government as quickly as possible for a decision.