asked the Minister for Defence if any progress has been made with the proposal to set up a representative body to discuss pay and conditions of serving officers, NCOs and men of the Defence Forces.

I would refer the Deputy to my reply of the 28th ultimo to a question on this subject.

Consideration of the matter is proceeding.

Would the Minister say how fast consideration is going so far?

I do not know exactly what the Deputy means by such an indefinite question.

I shall make it definite. Deputy Noel Lemass asked a somewhat similar question on 28th November last. Would the Minister be able to say if anything has been done since he gave that reply to Deputy Lemass?

Examination of the matter is still proceeding, and I would not at this point of time wish to put a bracket on the date on which decisions will be taken.

If we are both here on the first day on which the Dáil meets again in February the question will be repeated so that the Minister will have an opportunity——

I might not be able to give him definite information at that time.

I want to ensure that it will not be forgotten.

I initiated this——

I am giving the Minister full credit for that.

——and in consultation with my colleagues I shall make the decision.

I want to ensure it is made within a reasonable time and not in years to come.