If the Minister is feeling flaithiúlach in replying to questions—which is a welcome change—can he tell the House when legislation will be introduced to give effect to the recommendations in the report of the Posts and Telegraphs review group?

Is the Deputy referring to the statutory bodies?

Yes.

That will take quite some time. We have to issue a Green Paper, and it will take a few months to issue it, for discussion purposes. Then we will issue a White Paper and go ahead with the legislation. If we look at the experience they had in Britain during the changeover it will take quite some time to get the legislation through.

Would the Minister consider shortening the consultative process and enlarging the legislative process by appointing a Select Committee of the House to go into the Committee Stage of the legislation?

We are concerned with a tremendous undertaking. I have to consult with all the people involved and I propose to do that.

So it will not be done in the lifetime of this Government.

We are making a very good start.