asked the Taoiseach whether he intends to lodge a copy of the Summerhill Document in the Library of the Houses of the Oireachtas for the information of Members of the Dáil; and whether he intends to lay the document before the House for the purpose of obtaining its approval for its provisions.

2.

asked the Taoiseach if he will outline details of the agreement entered into prior to his nomination as Taoiseach between himself and Deputy Gregory-Independent; and if he will make copies of the agreement available to each Member of the House.

3.

(Limerick-East) asked the Taoiseach if he will lay the text of the agreement signed prior to his nomination as Taoiseach between himself and Deputy Gregory-Independent before Dáil Éireann and allow time to debate it.

4.

asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the joint agreement signed prior to his nomination as Taoiseach by himself and Deputy Gregory-Independent, to which Deputy Gregory-Independent referred in his maiden speech in the House.

5.

asked the Taoiseach if he will lay before the House the witnessed agreement made prior to his nomination as Taoiseach between himself and Deputy Gregory-Independent.

6.

asked the Taoiseach if, in view of the statement read in the Dáil on Tuesday, 9 March 1982 purporting to be a witnessed written agreement entered into prior to his nomination as Taoiseach between himself and Deputy Gregory-Independent he will state the cost of the items in this agreement; the timescale for its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter to alleviate fears that there is a discrimination in favour of the Dublin inner-city area against other under-privileged areas of the country.

7.

asked the Taoiseach with regard to the reference in his agreement prior to his nomination as Taoiseach with Deputy Gregory-Independent in relation to an inner-city development authority, if this authority will deal with the south inner Dublin city on equal terms as with the north inner Dublin city.

8.

asked the Taoiseach if he will state in relation to the agreement made prior to his nomination as Taoiseach between himself and Deputy Gregory-Independent how it is intended to provide for equally deprived areas in the same region e.g. south inner Dublin.

9.

(Limerick-East) asked the Taoiseach the cost of implementing in full the agreement signed prior to his nomination as Taoiseach between himself and Deputy Gregory-Independent in 1982, 1983 and 1984; and if he will give a detailed breakdown of the cost in each year.

10.

asked the Taoiseach if he will indicate the details of any undertakings given by him to Deputies prior to his nomination as Taoiseach and to the commencement of the 23rd Dáil and the formation of his Government; if he will for the information of Deputies place full finance details of any such undertakings in the Library of the House; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

11.

asked the Taoiseach whether in addition to (a) presiding over the inner-city authority, (b) nominating the five other members of the authority which is to have power, among other things, to nominate one of three commissioners to be the planning authority for the 27-acre Dublin Port and Docks Board site, (c) his appointing a second of three commissioners who are to be the planning authority of the site and (d) appointing a member of the proposed national community development agency, it is proposed that the chairman of the authority to be nominated by Deputy Tony Gregory-Independent, in accordance with his commitment, will exercise any further functions.

12.

asked the Taoiseach whether the proposed National Community Development Agency to which he is committed will replace or operate in parallel with the combat poverty agency whose establishment has already been announced.

13.

asked the Taoiseach the steps he proposes to take to implement the signed agreement made prior to his nomination as Taoiseach between himself and Deputy Gregory-Independent.

14.

asked the Taoiseach how the agreement made prior to his nomination as Taoiseach between himself and Deputy Gregory-Independent is to be funded; and how much it will cost.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 14 together.

The various Ministers concerned will, in the course of the forthcoming budget debate, outline the measures to be taken in furtherance of Government policy relating to inner-city areas. Their statements will cover the various points raised by Deputies.

Was the document which appeared in The Irish Times on Wednesday, 10 March 1982 an accurate reproduction or synopsis of the agreement reached by him with Deputy Gregory?

Any agreement made between myself and any other Member of the House is a matter between the Deputies concerned.

Would the Taoiseach agree that documents or undertakings which made it possible for the Taoiseach to occupy the office he now holds are of such solemnity and national importance that there should be no delay in publishing details of these undertakings and agreements? Would the Taoiseach also agree that waiting until the budget is announced is not entirely appropriate?

I do not agree with that.

Would the Taoiseach agree to place a copy of the agreement in the Library of the House so that Deputies can see what is involved, as it is a matter of public interest and indeed without precedent?

The only matter of public interest in this regard is the policy of the Government in regard to inner-city development, urban renewal or urban affairs, whichever title one wishes to use and, in so far as lines of development in these areas have been agreed with individual Deputies, these things can be teased out as policy is announced in the House.

Does the Taoiseach refuse to place this document in the Library?

I do not think it is a document which it would be appropriate to place in the Library. If we are going to place documents on the Table of the House I think we should put all documents on the Table including a few last minute decisions of the previous Government.

Does the Taoiseach, therefore, agree to place this document in the Library?

What I am saying is that in so far as these matters are the subject of Government policy, they will in due course be outlined by me and the other Ministers responsible and they can then be the subject of discussion by any Deputies who wish to raise them.

A number of questions have been put down here today but the Taoiseach has not answered them individually. In view of the Taoiseach's last answer, may I ask whether the questions to which he has not given replies today can be pursued in the near future in the Dáil? If we put down questions numbers 1 to 12 again in the near future can we take it they will be allowed?

I will consider them.

Before we leave this matter, these questions have not been answered by the Taoiseach, and in view of that will it not be permissible for Deputies to put these questions down again within six months?

I cannot anticipate anything like that. I am not responsible for Ministers' answers. I will give it my consideration.

Will you allow Deputies who have not been given answers to go into these questions again to try to get replies in the next six months?

Six months might be excessive in this case.

I have allowed many supplementaries today. So far I have allowed 11 supplementaries.

Does the Taoiseach agree that it is an unfortunate situation when you have some Deputies in a position to refer to solemn undertakings given to them by the Taoiseach while other Members have to depend on newspaper reports——

I suggest that the legitimate interest of Deputies is Government policy, and we propose to outline Government policy step by step as the occasion demands. I have had discussions with many Deputies individually, about many aspects of Government policy, and we will elaborate on these matters in the House. Then Deputies will have a full opportunity to discuss them.

Why is the Taoiseach reluctant to do so now?

What is he afraid of?

Some of these matters in which Deputies have been interested include urban renewal and inner-city development. As a result of discussions with Deputies following the general election, we propose to outline a comprehensive policy of urban renewal and inner-city development.

Why can the Taoiseach not have these documents placed in the Library?

I do not know what documents the Deputy is talking about.

Would the Taoiseach not agree that a document involving expenditure of between £120 million and £500 million of taxpayers' money should be made available to Members of the House who will be asked to vote those funds?

I do not know of the existence of any such document.

The Taoiseach is backing away from these questions. His flippant responses are totally unacceptable to the House.

I am not responsible for replies to questions. I am calling on Deputy Michael Noonan from Limerick.

If the Taoiseach does not give me a reply I am entitled to persist in looking for a reply.

I have called on Deputy Michael Noonan.