asked the Taoiseach whether all members of the Government have resigned their positions as members of local authorities; and if he will outline his policy generally regarding Ministers and Ministers of State retaining membership of local authorities.

The Minister for Energy is the only member of the Government serving on a local authority. He is a member of Galway County Borough, Galway County Council and subsidiary bodies.

The general principle, which continues to apply, is that Ministers and Ministers of State should resign from such bodies as soon as conveniently possible after appointment, unless only a short time remains of their term of office or other special consideration are involved.

I take it from the Taoiseach's reply that the Minister for Energy will be resigning his position as a member of the local authority.

Unless he will be in office for only a very short time.

That is a fair point indeed.

A very short time as a member of the local authority.

The Taoiseach has said that there is a general principle that Ministers and Ministers of State should resign their positions as members of local authorities. Could he tell us in relation to his last Administration whether that policy was followed and if all Ministers and Ministers of State resigned their positions on local authorities?

The Deputy would do well to stick to this Administration.

That is a typically evasive reply from the Taoiseach, but may I press him on it for the detail?

If the Deputy starts pressing me I will start going back too.

The purpose of Question Time is to elicit information. Could the Taoiseach give me the information?

I have not got it readily available in relation to the last Administration.

Arising from the Taoiseach's reply in which he referred to the short time a particular office holder might still have to serve as a member of a local authority, can he confirm now that it is the Government's intention to hold the next local elections next June?

That is a separate question, Deputy.

No, it is not.

Please, Deputy, you should put down a question because that is a very specific matter.

With all due respect——

This question deals with resignations of Ministers and Ministers of State.

The Taoiseach clearly indicated that if a short period of time remains——

The Chair is concerned about the question that is before him.

——of the term of office on the local authority, of which the Minister might be a member that that might be a factor. I think it is a reasonable question.

It is a distinctly separate question.

I do not think so. It was raised by the Taoiseach.

It is my decision, Deputy, and it is quite clear.

The Chair will want to maintain the standards of fairness for which you have become renowned——

Yes, indeed.

——and therefore you will allow me to press this question which is if the Taoiseach will confirm that we are going to have local elections——

I said that is a separate question.

In order to help my colleague let me ask the Taoiseach two supplementaries. First, will he indicate to the House how many of the junior Ministers he appointed in 1987 have remained members of local authorities? Is the Chief Whip of his Party, Deputy Brady, still a member of Dublin Corporation? Is it his intention to instruct Deputy Brady to resign from Dublin Corporation and is it his intentioin to instruct all junior Ministers he appoints today, tomorrow or whenever he is going to make appointments, that they must resign forthwith membership of local authorities?

I have stated the position as it applies to this Administration.

Question No. 3.

With respect——

Order. Next Question, No. 3.

A Cheann Comhairle——

I have called the next question. Deputy Shatter may not ignore the Chair in this fashion.

Those in this House——

Deputy Shatter will resume his seat. If the Deputy persists I shall have to ask him to leave.

It is a disgrace that Ministers should remain members of local authorities.

There is a difference between policy and practice.

I do not think the Deputy need wax too indignant considering the conditions of precedent set by his own party from time to time.

The Taoiseach has set out the principles to which his own party are currently not adhering.

A great transformation may have taken place but the last time that party were in office——

Another core principle.

——there were some breaches of the rectitude Deputy Shatter is now trying to preach.