Given the dominance of PD thinking within Government in regard to public enterprise, can our citizenry have any confidence that the subtitle of the White Paper when published will be other than a charter for privatisation? When does the Taoiseach expect the White Paper to be published? Can he give us a firm indication that this will happen, if not in this session, in the following session?

I hope it will be during this summer. I do not think it will be before the upcoming break but the section is working to have it completed before the holiday break at the end of July. I checked this matter this morning and was told that the July deadline will be met. Based on the latest information, which is all I can give the House, I hope it will be before the summer recess.

I accept the concern that people will think that regulation is another device to move towards privatisation of State utilities because that arises in the OECD paper in regard to a number of issues. However, on this particular issue, it is pointed out that it is seeking to try to simplify regulation and to set a mechanism so that we do not have detailed regulations which are unworkable or cannot function. It is not a device for getting recommendations or a determination to privatise State utilities. While that arises in regard to other aspects of competition, it is not what this working group is endeavouring to do.