Neither the British Prime Minister, the Chief Constable of the RUC nor anyone else outside this jurisdiction is involved in the simple question I addressed to the Taoiseach, namely, if he has any plans to meet the Congress of Trade Unions to discuss pay, jobs and taxation. It is a very simple question, capable of a yes or no answer. May I remind the Taoiseach that the question originates from the fact that the Government stated that there would be no question of discussing anything except the public service pay freeze in their statement of 14 August? Is it the position that he is now prepared to discuss a much broader agenda, including pay, employment and taxation reform? If this is now the position, why could it not have been the position on 14 August last, thereby avoiding the unprecedented withdrawal of labour by the entire public service?

The position is as I have stated. The proposals which will be outlined in my statement this afternoon are ones I am inviting the NESC to discuss with me and with other members of the Government on 1 November. These proposals will deal with issues of employment and tax collection.

Tax collection?

With regard to public service pay, we approached the ICTU on that subject and the Public Services Committee of Congress and the Deputy is aware of that. We are willing and open to see them at any time on these subjects.

The Taoiseach insists on being devious about this matter. My question simply is whether he has plans to meet them.

I am calling Deputy Taylor next.

Where is Michael O'Kennedy?

Where is John Boland?

Order.

I wish to ask the Taoiseach——

The Fianna Fáil Leader met the ICTU and promised the National Development Corporation but now he is opposing it. He lied to the ICTU. He is playing both sides of the fence.

The Deputy is getting very worried.

Order.

I am trying to ascertain from the Taoiseach, and I will persist in this despite anything Deputy McLoughlin may do, whether he has any plans to meet the ICTU. I am trying to find out if he is prepared to discuss with Congress this broad agenda to which I have referred. If he is prepared now to discuss it, why did he and the Minister for the Public Service in particular inflict on the country a nationwide public service strike when it could have been avoided if he had taken this action last August? It is a simple question.

The Deputy seems to forget that we approached the ICTU and proposed a meeting before that strike took place. The Congress replied to us in relation to that request——

The Government cheated them.

——and their suggestion was that the matter should be discussed at the Public Services Committee whom we were also prepared to meet. We are prepared to meet either of them at any time on the matter of pay. We are in a position to negotiate and that was made clear at the time. It was made clear at the meeting of the Public Services Committee that they were not in a position to negotiate. We are prepared to meet them as soon as they are in a position to talk to us.

With regard to other matters to which I have referred, we will be discussing taxation, pay and employment with the NESC, but without prejudice to having separate discussions with individual groups, including the trade unions should they wish to do so. With regard to employment generally, the Congress of Trade Unions had asked for a meeting on that subject in July but decided against pursuing it. We accepted their decision but we will be happy to meet them at any time to discuss that subject. I hope that answers all the Deputy's questions.

I can only take——

I wish to point out that there will be an opportunity later today to——

I had three questions down but you ruled two out of order.

Unfortunately——

I am going to pursue supplementaries on the question you permitted.

Unfortunately, that is one of the things I am paid for.

As long as you do not do things you are not paid for we will tolerate it.

You are ruling out questions——

I said I will call Deputy Taylor next.

These are my questions.

He has one too. I allowed——

In the case of Deputy Mac Giolla, because we were dealing with his question, you called him first.

I am calling Deputy Taylor.

I object to this behaviour but it is in keeping with the way you have been treating me since this Dáil reassembled. You have ruled out one of my questions which the Taoiseach was expecting and prepared to answer.

If that proves one thing——

You also resorted to advice to prevent another question being addressed to the Taoiseach and now you will not let me ask supplementaries on my question.

The fact that the Taoiseach was ready and expected to answer proves one thing conclusively——

It proves you were capricious.

Deputy Taylor.