asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the present position regarding the planning application by Bula Limited for an open-cast lead/zinc mine at Navan, County Meath.

I am informed by the company that certain matters arising out of the company's application for a partly open-cast mine are the subject of correspondence at present between the company and the planning authority.

Can the Minister say why some of the questions put by Meath County Council last October have not been replied to? Why have the company not replied to the letter written to them in February last?

I indicated that I understand that correspondence is going on between the company and the planning authority. The question of planning was extensively debated and I made it clear that I want the proper authorities to discharge their functions in a proper manner. That is my concern and I expressed it on a number of occasions.

The Minister's information is not correct because the county manager informed Meath County Council that he had not received any answer from Bula Limited since he wrote to them in February this year with regard to their planning application. The manager sought replies from the company to a number of questions in the course of that letter. In view of the fact that the State have taken a 49 per cent share in the company, will the Minister see to it that the company reply to the council in regard to their application for planning permission? Is the situation that the company does not want to get planning permission?

I can only reply that I understand correspondence between the company and the planning authority is taking place.

When did Bula Limited last write to Meath County Council?

I do not have that information here but I can get it for the Deputy although I suspect the Deputy can find the information easier than I.

I suggest that the Minister is misleading the House. The Minister has told us that correspondence has been going on between the company and the council but he cannot tell us when the last letter was sent by the company to the council. The Minister should do something to get the company to reply to the council.

Does the Minister not consider, in view of the fact that the taxpayer is committed to the payment of £9.54 million at least for a 24 per cent interest in this company, that he, as the trustee or custodian of that large amount of taxpayers' money, should force this company to pursue with vigour their planning application to Meath County Council? Does the Minister not concede that he has a strict duty in that regard? Why does he not fulfil that duty?

The matter of the application is being processed vigorously.

Why is the Minister not able to tell Deputy Crinion when Bula Limited last wrote to the council?

The Minister should be permitted to reply to the supplementary question.

The question of correspondence between various companies in which the State has an interest and other people is a matter of fine detail. I have no way of knowing what the most recent date was. I can find that out but one does not have an itemised list of the dates when correspondence was exchanged between companies and planning authorities.

Why did the Minister say that this was being vigorously pursued if he does not know the details?

Arising further out of the Minister's reply——

I am moving to the next question.

The Minister does not like any questions about Bula Limited and he will appreciate the efforts of the Chair to get on to Question No. 15.

The Chair has given every latitude in that regard.