asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider amending the planning laws to ensure that the Land Commission can only erect houses on sites approved by the local authority.

I am not aware of any cogent reasons for altering the present statutory position which requires State authorities, including the Land Commission, to consult with planning authorities before undertaking the construction or extension of any building other than one connected with afforestation—and further requires them to consult with me in connection with any objections by planning authorities which they have not been able to resolve by direct consultation.

While the Land Commission are required to consult with the local authority, they are not required to act on the advice of the local authority.

No, but they are required to consult with me if the objections of the planning authorities cannot be resolved by consultation.

The Minister does it on a Party basis——

——which makes it completely satisfactory to the Minister. I do not think Deputy Faulkner, the Minister for Lands, would agree with that.

I did not hear the reply the Minister gave to Question No. 22. Did the Minister for Local Government skip the reading of that reply?

I read the reply to Question No. 22 while Deputy Harte was shouting.

Question No. 22 was not answered.

The Minister mumbled his way through it and that is not fair to the Deputy.

I read the reply while Deputy Harte was, as usual, disrupting the proceedings of the Dáil.

There is a change of heart.

The Taoiseach spent six hours the other day trying to keep the two of you down.

I was in Coachford before it was over.

What reply, please, did the Minister read to Question No. 22?