asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if, in order to develop the mineral deposits at Navan to the best advantage of the State, he will now take steps to bring Tara Mines into public owner-ship.

The answer to the Deputy's question is "no".

The Minister in the discussion about the arrangements made with Tara convincingly made a case against the agreement made. Would the Minister not agree now that he is in a position to do something about it, to implement some of the points made at that time and to change the present agreement? Does the Minister intend to do that?

No. The discussion in question related to Bula and not to Tara.