asked the Minister for the Public Service if a decision regarding the appointment of an ombudsman has been made and if he will make a statement regarding such an appointment.

Examination of the legislative provisions which would be necessary to establish the office of ombudsman is at an advanced stage in my Department. Pending the enactment of such legislation, the question of making an appointment to the office has not been considered.

Is that not the same reply that the Minister for Finance gave to a similar question last October or November?

It may be.

If Fine Gael can produce a Bill in far less time and have it circulated and printed, surely with the machinery available to the Government they could have done it before now?

It is the only one they produced.

It is not.