asked the Taoiseach if (a) his Department and (b) any State body under its aegis has employed management consultants since the 1st January, 1969; and, if so, if he will state in respect of (a) and (b) (i) the name of each consultant, (ii) the length of time spent on each consultancy, (iii) the fee and the expenses paid and (iv) the number of consultant personnel engaged; and if he will give the names of the State bodies involved.

The answer to the first part of the question is "No" and the second part does not, therefore, arise.

Can the Taoiseach say which group of consultants he employed before bringing before the House last December the Committee of Public Accounts of Dáil Éireann Criminal Procedure Bill, 1970?

The Deputy may not raise that on the question. It does not arise.

Of course it does.

The request was made by the Opposition Parties.

Not true.

The Taoiseach knows very well that what he is saying is false in so far as this party are concerned. He should withdraw that allegation.

The request was made by Fianna Fáil.

They hoped to gut Deputy Haughey on it and Fine Gael hoped to gut Fianna Fáil on it. Deputy Keating and I opposed it.

Order. Deputies should not behave in this fashion.

When I opposed it I was shouted down by a Parliamentary Secretary who told me to grow up.

The people that the Government consult in the matter of legislation are, at all times, the Members of this House.

This Bill was pushed through the House in one day but when I protested I was shouted down by both big parties.

Will the Deputy please resume his seat and allow Deputy Cooney to put a supplementary on his own question?

Is the Taoiseach aware that many people consider it to be inappropriate that a firm of American management consultants should be consulted regularly to solve the problems of the Irish Government?

I have not consulted any management consultants in any country in respect of the activities of my Department.

I am not referring exclusively to the activities of the Taoiseach's Department.

The question relates to my Department.

Would the Taoiseach agree that, perhaps, inadvertently he made a mistake in saying that that legislation was sought by the Opposition parties? Would he not agree that it was sought by an all-party committee?

This has nothing to do with the question.

It was sought at the request of the chairman of an all-party committee with the approval of the members of that committee.

All I wanted was a reasonable discussion on the Bill but that was not allowed.

You would cash in on anything.

The Government made dirt of the House.

One would think he was serious.