asked the Minister for Labour if he will consider the establishment of an all-party committee to investigate the functioning of the trade union movement in the country having special regard to the number of strikes in essential services and with a view to rationalising its structure; and if he will also consider merging British based unions with their Irish counterparts.

I am at present considering a number of proposals aimed at assisting the trade union movement in its efforts to improve its efficiency and rationalise its structure. For example, I hope to be in a position to circulate the text of a Trade Union Amalgamation Bill during the next Dáil session. I am hopeful that this measure, when enacted, will help stimulate trade unions to amalgamation. The position of foreign-based trade unions operating in this country is, of course, relevant to my general consideration in this matter.

Apart from the work of the unions themselves aimed at bringing together unions organising the same kind of worker, I think the introduction of the forthcoming Trade Union Amalgamation Bill will help the trade unions considerably in their efforts to rationalise the movement.

I should like to preface my remarks by asking if the Minister, in preparing his reply, gave consideration to the recent statement by the Director General of the FUE on trade union amalgamation and other problems? Would the Minister give an indication to the House of his views on that statement?

There are a number of statements in the papers every day. I read the statements of Opposition spokesmen, the statements of employers and the statements of trade unions, but I think the Deputy would agree that it would be unrealistic to turn our Parliament into a question and answer session on opinions on statements made by other people.

I do not understand the Minister's reply. Is he indicating that he is not aware of the statement to which I have referred or is he saying that he is aware of it but does not want to comment.

No. I have read the statement.

I wonder where Deputy Ahern is? He is certainly not in Monaghan with his "bags of guns".