On 1 October, the Taoiseach stated in the Dáil that he had had a meeting with the president of Shell, one of the largest multinational oil, gas and energy companies in the world. What was the purpose of that meeting, when did it take place and who was present? The Taoiseach stated, and again made reference to it this afternoon, that in the course of that meeting he discussed the Corrib gas project. Was that the reason for the meeting? Does the Taoiseach believe that, as a Head of Government, it is appropriate for him to discuss with the president of Shell a proposition that is still going through the planning process? Would he agree that it is inappropriate for him to discuss a planning application that has yet to be determined at another level within this jurisdiction? Would he accept that it is even more inappropriate for him to meet the president of Shell and discuss proposed legislation which does not even appear as yet in the programme of proposed legislation that the Government issued to this Chamber following the summer recess? This legislation has not been discussed either in this House or by any Oireachtas committee.

The Taoiseach must acknowledge that it is strange that the legislation referred to by him on 1 October as the critical infrastructure Bill, and again by Deputy Cullen during his visit to Killarney last week as the national infrastructure Bill, comes in the aftermath of his meeting with the president of Shell. Will the Taoiseach confirm that in the course of that meeting, the president indicated that he was loath to proceed with the project until he had the necessary assurances regarding the planning permission issue? Would the Taoiseach agree that this is yet a further prime example of privileged access to the corridors of power for some regarding planning matters?

The Deputy has a lot of access to power.

I have clearly brought the Tánaiste to life. The Taoiseach may be good enough to respond.

The Deputy has had too much access to the corridors of power.

It is always the same. At one time one should not meet people and at another time one should. Deputy Ó Caoláin might prefer if I spent my time meeting former paramilitary people rather than presidents of major organisations.

We are dealing now with planning matters. The Taoiseach should stick to dealing with the question rather than looking for cul de sacs.

Deputy Ó Caoláin should behave.

It would be highly inappropriate for me not to meet people wishing to legitimately invest their resources in generating projects and activities in this country.

Will the Taoiseach deal with the question?

Deputy Ó Caoláin, you are being disorderly.

I will deal with the question now if the Deputy will listen. The president of Shell had to make a decision on behalf of the European board. Accompanied by officials from the Irish and European operations he wanted to know the Government's view of the Corrib project before making a decision on the allocation of further finance. He asked if we were still interested in Shell investing further money in this country. I confirmed that inward investment was welcome. He then asked me, as the national infrastructure Bill had been in the public domain for several weeks, if that Bill would be in place prior to the company's re-application. I explained to him, as I have already outlined to the House on two occasions in reply to Deputy Kenny, that it was unlikely the new Bill would be in place before next summer when it was hoped the company could commence work. I recommended it stay with the normal planning structure. He informed me it would take that information into account. The project was, it believed, a viable and good one but it would have to reconsider the level of investment required. It had other projects in hand at various locations around the world and the matter would go before the European board of Shell for a decision.

I totally reject Deputy Ó Caoláin's view that my meeting international figures of any company is in any way wrong. It has always been our practice to do so. It is entirely appropriate for the Taoiseach or Ministers of the day to meet officials of such companies at properly documented meetings.

The Taoiseach is seeking to side-track the question. Nobody objects to his meeting the president of Shell.

We should go to America for the money, then we would not need anyone.