asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development if, in view of the continued uncontrolled rise in prices of consumer goods, it is intended to negotiate a new and improved permissible norm in the national wage agreement.

The national agreement is a voluntary agreement entered into by the employers and trade unions and it is not the intention of the Government to seek a renegotiation or amendment of the Agreement. The available evidence relating to movements in prices in 1978 does not support the Deputy's contention that there has been a continued uncontrolled rise in prices during the period.