asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when it is proposed to introduce legislation to amend and update the Industrial Development Acts; and if he will publish a White Paper in advance of the publication of the legislation.

I hope to introduce a Bill early in the next session. I do not consider it necessary to publish a White Paper in advance of the publication of the legislation. However, at the Bill's Second Stage I intend to make a statement on present and future operations under the Industrial Development Acts so as to afford Deputies an opportunity for a constructive debate on industrial development policy.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary indicate in general outline the likely contents of the Bill?

No.

Why?

That information will be made available in due course when the Bill is introduced.

Would it not be helpful to constructive debate on this extremely important topic to have some indication in general terms of what Government thinking is on these lines?

There will be ample opportunity when the Bill is introduced, as provided by normal procedure, for constructive and lengthy debate on this matter. As the Deputy is aware, there has already been fairly wide-ranging debate on other IDA legislation in the House in the recent past.

There has not been any IDA legislation other than that related to raising loan and borrowing limits and so on in the past four or five years.

Having participated in some of these debates I am quite well aware that the discussion has been very wide-ranging and that Deputies who had the desire of making a contribution were able to do so.