Could the Taoiseach say if he is satisfied with the performance of commercial semi-State companies? Would he say what precise plans the Government have for these 28 or so companies which now employ 50,000 people turning over £3 billion and account for approximately 20 per cent of State debt with some three-quarters of them in financial difficulties? Would the Taoiseach inform the House if he is satisfied with that type of performance and does he not now think that the time has come for a more radical look at the way these State companies are co-ordinated?

I could not say that I am satisfied with the performance of all commercial State-sponsored bodies. While many of them continue to perform very efficiently, in a number of cases there have been problems. Some of these problems may derive from the impact upon them of policy decisions of different Governments, others may have arisen from inadequacies in their own management and direction. I would not attempt to obscure the fact that there are problems but the Minister for Finance has initiated the submission of corporate plans by these bodies and will be submitting a periodical report on them to the Government. The process under which each body have to submit their corporate plans for the years ahead has concentrated the minds of people considerably and will give the Government a much better overall view of where these bodies think they are going and will put the Government in a better position to co-ordinate their activities.