asked the Minister for the Environment the present position regarding the status of the National Association of Tenant Organisations; if he proposes to restore full negotiating rights to this association on issues relating to local authority housing on a national basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - NATO Status.
2.
I refer the Deputy to my replies to his questions of 25 November 1987 and 9 March 1988. As part of the ongoing communications with the association, further discussions took place recently with them and another meeting is scheduled for 5 December.
The Minister referred to two previous occasions on which I put this question and I must advise the House that I will continue to put the question until the Minister is prepared to answer it. When does the Minister propose to re-establish NATO, the National Association of Tenant Organisations, as the national consultative organisation with regard to local authority housing and development? We are not talking about meetings and discussions without an agenda.
I think the Deputy has made his point.
I am asking——
There is no need to repeat the question.
The organisation to which the Deputy refers have a good relationship with the Department and the meetings to which he refers have at all times been cordial. Matters which are of relevance have been discussed. There are ongoing communications and I cannot see the point in the Deputy pursuing this matter in the way he is pursuing it. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on 5 December and the matters to be considered are wide ranging. There has always been and there will continue to be consultation with the organisation referred to.
Would the Minister confirm that in the current year alone three major decisions have been taken by the Department of the Environment and the local authorities and that the sale of flat scheme, the new differential rent scheme introduced in Dublin, Fermoy and Cork and the new tenant purchase scheme for the current year were all introduced without there being consultation or negotiations with the National Association of Tenant Organisations? In that event how can the Minister maintain that there is anything approaching meaningful discussions taking place between his Department and NATO who are not being notified or consulted in advance of major changes in local authority administration?
They were consulted on these matters.
After the event.
A whole range of matters which are of interest to them have been discussed and their views have been taken into account. I have given them an undertaking that when these matters are discussed with them I will take note of what they say. They continue to make points, some of which have been taken on board while others have not. They have always understood the reasons. They have been invited to a further meeting on 5 December when I expect they will have some further remarks to make in relation to the items the Deputy has referred to.
Finally, let me ask——
It must be a very brief question.
Let me remind the Minister——
A question please, Deputy.
Let me remind the Minister that in his party's manifesto for the last election they roundly condemned Fine Gael and Labour for their abandonment of NATO. Can the Minister tell us if he is prepared to re-establish NATO as a negotiating authority with the right to be consulted in advance when major decisions are to be taken? Can the Minister give a yes or no reply to that question?
Please, Deputy McCartan, if the Deputy persists in asking long questions I will have to go on to deal with the next question.
I can hear what the Deputy is saying and he can rest assured that I will be prepared to consult with the organisation he has referred to on matters of relevance.
Prior to the event?
Until matters have been decided on by Government there is hardly any point in me discussing them with organisations I might very well have to go back to subsequently to say that we have decided not to go ahead. The Deputy should be reasonable.