asked the Minister for Finance whether he agrees with the advice in the latest NESC Report that specific measures must be introduced to reduce the current balance of payments deficit to a tolerable level; and, if so, the measures he considers should be introduced.

27.

asked the Minister for Finance whether he accepts for the purposes of economic planning, the conclusion of the majority in the recently issued NESC Report, Economic and Social Policy 1980-1983.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Numbers 26 and 27 together. I refer the Deputies to the statement issued by the Government on Friday, 28 November when the NESC report was published. The Government's position on the issues raised will be reflected in the planning documents to be published in 1981 and in the budget statement.

Is the Minister satisfied to answer Questions Nos. 26, 27 and 28?

Of course. In relation to the projections which I indicated in the budget——

The point is, is the Minister responsible for NESC? Do they report to the Minister's Department or to the Minister?

No, but the Deputy is aware that the Minister for Finance is responsible for economic management and for economic planning and development. In that context I am satisfied——

Who do NESC send their report to?

The Minister for Finance is the person in Government who is responsible——

We would make a lot more progress if the Minister would answer the question he is being asked.

NESC report to the Taoiseach, quite rightly.

I put these questions down to the Taoiseach; why is he not answering them?

Because the responsibility involved is clearly that of the Minister for Finance.

The NESC report is submitted to the Taoiseach; why is he not answering the questions?

It is clearly the responsibility of the Minister for Finance.

We cannot have an argument on this.

The Taoiseach is responsible and he is not here to answer.

Sidestepping as usual.

Deputy FitzGerald.

The Minister has said that he has responsibility for economic planning and development but is it not the case that the Taoiseach transferred the functions of the Department of Economic Planning and Development to the Taoiseach's Department including those functions of the NESC and the Minister's statement that his Department are responsible is incorrect and he is misleading the House?

Misleading is a very strong term. I assure the House that for the last 12 months the Department of Finance have had responsibility for economic planning and development. Proof of this has emerged in relation to actions taken in accordance with the national understanding. In addition the investment plan which will be published shortly was considered by the whole Government including the Taoiseach's Department who would have an input, but the primary responsibility for it rests with the Department of Finance.

Would the Minister not agree that the functions of this Department were transferred with their staffs to the Taoiseach's Department?

No.

That is what the Taoiseach told this House.

Deputy Kelly.

Are we to believe the Minister or the Taoiseach?

I wish to make it quite clear that there is a planning unit in my Department headed by most of the people who were in the Department of Economic Planning and Development although some people from that Department may be in the Taoiseach's Department or elsewhere, but that is a matter of administration. The function and the responsibility for planning remains with my Department.

Deputy Kelly.

We are not to believe the Taoiseach.

Is it not a fact that the man we are talking about is only too anxious to move in on Ministers and get himself photographed holding a dry baby——

We cannot have a discussion on this.

On a point of order——

I could not interrupt Deputy Kelly's flow of speech, it is too entertaining.

It is not a joke unfortunately. It is the first time we have had a Government here that did that.

He ducks everything except a camera.

On a point of order, could we have an assurance that we are actually dealing with the Minister for Finance at the moment.

That is not a point of order.

Is the Minister going to tender his resignation before 3.30 p.m.?

Question No. 28. We have had enough supplementaries on this.