Is there any prospect of an early decision by the Government? The Government have had various proposals from the board of CIE——

The Government have not had proposals.

They have. I can supply the minutes of the Joint Committee.

The only proposal currently before the Government is a proposal for improvement of the suburban rail system.

Is it not fair to say that there has been no response to any proposal, irrespective of its content, from the Department of Transport and Power or from the Minister? There has been no response to proposals for rapid rail, for a coach-building programme or for electrification. All of these proposals have filtered through.

The only proposal currently before the Government is the proposal for the electrification of the suburban rail services. That proposal has been examined by the Government at a number of meetings and examination and discussion are continuing. I expect a decision at an early date.

Is it not the case that the Minister is playing with words when he speaks of proposals? Is it not the case that the electrification scheme for improvement of the suburban rail system is phase 1 of a multi-phase proposal and that he has already received outline proposals in relation to the latter part?

That is a reasonable inference which has been drawn by many people. It appears to be the basis for the previous question in Deputy Quinn's name to which I have already referred where I indicated that his remarks were entirely without foundation. It is the sort of assumption that many people would make. There is no proposal before the Government dealing with the entire transport system, rapid rail proposal or anything else in the Dublin area. There has been a specific proposal relating only to the improvement of the existing rail network.