asked the Minister for the Environment his views on the survey which the Local Authority Members' Association has sent out to local authorities for discussion on proposals for a property tax.

I am aware of the questionnaire to which the Deputy refers. The Local Authority Members' Association is of course free to consider any such matters. I would point out, however, that the views and interests of local authorities are already represented by two statutory bodies, the General Council of County Councils and the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland, with whom I have regular dialogue.

Is the Minister seriously telling us that he did not know that the local authorities' representatives association were preparing this document? If the findings correspond to his view, will he use such information in his Department?

The Deputy is presupposing many things. The Minister knows most things taking place at this level but I have no control over what particular organisations seek to do or achieve for their own ends.

I do not wish to remind the Minister of the main topic of today's debate but, bearing it in mind, will he say formally whether he saw the draft questionnaire from the secretary of the association, his colleague, Deputy Dempsey, and if he made comments in relation to one or all of the questions set out in the questionnaire? If he did——

We are certainly having an extension of this question.

It is of interest to Members.

I can assure the Deputy that I did not frame the questionnaire.

I asked the Minister a specific question. Did he see the draft questions? Were they shown to him by Deputy Dempsey prior to the questionaire being sent out?

That appears to be a separate question.

I do not think so.

I did not authorise the circulation, seek to have it authorised, seek to include any question submitted in the questionnaire or give instructions as to how, what or why would take place concerning that document.

Did the Minister see it?

Deputy Quinn is an extraordinary man.

The Minister himself is not too bad.