asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes to introduce the legislation to give statutory powers to the National Roads Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

40.

asked the Minister for the Environment the work which has been undertaken by the National Roads Authority since its establishment by him on an interim basis; the number of meetings which have taken place; the number of papers which have been prepared by the Authority and agreed by his Department and other Government Departments; if he will outline the role of the Authority and its priorities in the context of Ireland's Road Development Plan 1989-1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

48.

asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes to introduce legislation to give statutory effect to the National Roads Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 40 and 48 together.

A general scheme of a comprehensive roads Bill has been prepared and is being considered at present. The intention is to have the Bill introduced early in the next session.

May I ask the Minister of State if the heads of the Bill have been circulated to the Cabinet and been agreed?

Yes, they have been circulated to the various Departments.

May I ask the Minister of State——

I should have called Deputy Gerry O'Sullivan who has two questions tabled. I apologise to the Deputy.

I should like to ask the Minister if he agrees that there is a degree of urgency attached to the introduction of this legislation at this time?

Yes, and we hope to be able to introduce the Bill after the Christmas recess. It will be a very comprehensive Bill. In reply to Deputy Quinn, the heads of the Bill have been issued to the various Departments.

Arising from the Minister of State's reply — which is similar to a reply given over a year and a half ago by the Minister for the Environment — can he indicate whether the Cabinet have approved the heads of the Bill and that the Bill is with the Attorney General?

The Bill will be sent to the Cabinet shortly, and I do not see any difficulty in that regard.

Can I take it from what the Minister of State has said that no progress has been made in a period of 15 months and we are no further down the road than we were?

I do not think the Deputy listened to my reply. I said the Bill would be introduced in the next session after the Christmas recess. Is that not clear enough?

No, it is not.

It is very clear.

No, it is not because the Minister did not specify which Christmas. In view of the long queue of legislation awaiting clearance by the Attorney General and having regard to his long experience of governmental matters, would the Minister not agree that legislation which on 14 November has not even come before the Cabinet will not be capable of being introduced during the session immediately after Christmas, 1989 and that he is misleading the House as a consequence?

I am not misleading the House.

The Deputy should not allege that the Minister of State is misleading the House.

It would not be my intention to mislead the House——

It could be inadvertently.

No, that would not be so in my case, and I want the Deputy to know that. The position is as I told the Deputy.

Can we have a reply to Question No. 17, please?