First, is the Taoiseach aware that his reply to Deputy Fitzpatrick is difficult to reconcile with his statement this morning when he said that in the preparation of the plan the committee will consult the representatives of various bodies, including farmers. He seems to be confusing the order of events. Second, does he appreciate the significance of the question I asked at the outset about whether it would be a realistic plan, because his speech this morning seemed to cast doubts on this, when he said that he would expect the views of the community as a whole on what our objectives for economic expansion should be, and later he said that this plan would chart the course of economic development over the next few years. What should be, and what is likely to be, are two different things. I am sure the Taoiseach appreciates this. Will he give an assurance that the assumptions on which the plan is based will be realistic, and based on present policies with an indication of the changes in policies required to achieve better results?

I think I have dealt with all the points raised by Deputy FitzGerald. A very important part of this whole exercise will be that the Leader of the Opposition and others should refrain from their constant refrain of denigrating our economy, trying to do damage to our public finances, and trying to injure our credit at home and abroad.

That is not a reply. It is tendentious and irrelevant to the question I asked. I noticed that first of all the Taoiseach hesitated as to what to say, looked for advice, and then realised it was not available to him, rapidly enough.

The Deputy is getting childish.

He then gave an incoherent reply in a sentence which made no sense at all, and then proceeded to make political remarks. That does not suggest to me that he knows much about what he is planning in regard to the plan. He said in his speech this morning that he is enlisting the expert assistance of the Economic and Social Research Institute and other research bodies. Can he tell us what form that will take, and what degree of responsibility the institute will carry for the projections in the plan and the assumptions on which the plan will be based?

I do not understand the question. It is too long. It is a rigmarole.

I will repeat it in that case. The Taoiseach is enlisting the assistance of the Economic and Social Research Institute. To what extent will the assumptions on which the plan is based and the projections in the plan be the responsibility of the institute and carry their Imprimatur?

There are two primary institutes concerned. One is the ESRI and the other is the NESC. The advice, help, assistance and guidance of both those institutes will be sought and, no doubt, will be readily forthcoming. The final decisions with regard to the plan will be political decisions.

Quite.

It will be the responsibility of the Government to decide on the final content, objectives, and so on, of the plan.

These bodies will be brought in to give it a respectable gloss.