asked the Minister for the Environment if he has received a communication from Dublin City Council requesting him to grant bye-law permission under the Road Traffic Acts for the erection of a "bus-way only" sign, if so, the date he received this request and when a decision will be communicated to the council.

No such communication has been received by me.

Is that a fact?

I know there is a subtle difference between "busway" and "bus lane". There is no definition of "bus lane" in the Road Traffic Acts. With regard to Parliament Street, there is a proposal which is being examined. We expect it to be operational early in the New Year.

I accept that I have made a mistake. When are we likely to get a response from the Department?

We expect to have the Corporation's proposal operational early in the New Year.

Is it not just a little unjust on the basis of a semantic point between the words "bus way" and "bus lane" to present a negative answer to the House when the meaning was given by the Minister when he generously went on to develop the point?

There is no need to make a speech about the matter.

I raised the point because of its relevance.

The Deputy can be assured that I would have elaborated if Deputy Quinn had not asked me a supplementary. If I had met him accidentally I would have asked him if he was aware of the proposal.

I do not want to know about the Minister's personal relationships.

It is not a personal relationship.