The Minister has sought, with the approval of the House, to answer a lot of questions together when, understandably, there will be many supplementaries. I shall confine myself to asking three specific questions. First, will the Minister give the House an assurance that the ongoing negotiations between the representatives of the staff of An Foras Forbartha, his officials and himself will not result in anybody currently working in An Foras Forbartha being obliged to be demoted or to enter an open competition for an analagous post in the new unit which they currently hold in An Foras Forbartha? Second, will the Minister indicate — I do not think he did so in the course of his lengthy reply — whether the unit will continue to be based in St. Martin's House, Waterloo Road? Third, can the Minister give an indication as to whether the public will continue to have access to the information of an environmental nature which in the past was produced by An Foras Forbartha but no doubt which will now be produced in a similar manner by the ERU?

The selection procedures were discussed between me and representatives of the staff last week — I do not want to put a date on the record that may not be right so I will say it was last week.

Recently.

Very recently. A fair interpretation of what transpired there is that we agreed on certain matters. I hope the whole question concerning An Foras Forbartha and the new arrangements for the ERU will be resolved in the immediate future. The question of a selection procedure was discussed in so far as the selection of those who would go into the new unit is concerned. As I indicated to the staff representatives, I would like that selection procedure to be devised, if that is the right word, in consultation with them and I would like them to be happy with it. I gave an undertaking that I would discuss it with them.

Is the Minister repeating that undertaking in the House?

I am saying that it will be discussed with them. It seemed to me that the clear indication from them on the occasion when I met them was that they would be happy to consult in the matter. I think we can reach a satisfactory and amicable relationship in so far as the selection process is concerned. In the final analysis I am the one who has to decide.

Question No. 14.

With all due respect, a Cheann Comhairle, there were two other supplementary questions.