Would the Minister not accept that he is accountable to this House. As this is a matter of considerable public interest and concern, would the Minister not agree that the Members of the House are entitled to information from him and should not have to rely on newspaper leaks in relation to matters of public policy of this importance and would he have further and greater regard for his duties to this House?

The Minister has a major regard for his obligation and duty to inform this House. He has informed them that he has been carrying on negotiations from a frozen position as a result of the inactivity of the previous Government and has now made considerable progress towards an agreed deed of trust. The House should be encouraging agreement because the community schools are already in operation and are already providing a fine service at post-primary level.

Is the Minister aware that his frozen position originated with his colleague, Deputy Faulkner, who for three years froze the position? Would the Minister not agree that the Dáil is entitled to details of the final document and would he not further agree that we are entitled to a debate on the draft deeds of trust?

The frost lasted through 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and half of 1977. I immediately set about having negotiations to thaw the situation and I think I made considerable progress. The House will be informed and a copy of the deeds of trust will be placed in the Library, as I have already told the Deputy.

The Minister asked for our co-operation in encouraging people to reach agreement. That was reasonable and we certainly would give it, but then immediately afterwards he entered into a political-type debate of a less than honest kind and that does not help him to receive the consensus which might assist him in reaching an agreement on this problem.

I made a fair comment on the evolution of the deeds of trust.

Leaving aside the frozen 1973 position, does the Minister not agree that placing the document in the Library falls far short of the parliamentary necessity to have this document discussed in the House? Does he agree that the elected representatives are entitled to that?

I will keep the House fully informed about the progress of the draft deeds of trust.

The Minister spoke of his accountability to the House. Does he not agree that that responsibility demands that he would place the document before the House for discussion before it is signed?

We have had enough discussion on this question. We have been having continuing argument.

It is difficult to know what will be in the document until the final form of the agreement has been completed.