On the issue of the local government report and the re-establishment of town councils, which by the way the Labour Party helped to abolish, if Deputy Howlin forgets-----

I do not forget it. It was a mistake. The Deputy is making a childish point.

-----and which the Minister of State, Deputy John Paul Phelan, said was not discussed today at Cabinet-----

These are questions to the Taoiseach.

I know. There was plenty of commentary over the past two days from Independent members of the Government who seem unhappy about the proposal for the redrawing of the areas. On these plans, will the Taoiseach clarify whether he supports the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, in regard to promising to certain county managers the return of borough councils in what appear to be side deals ahead of the open and transparent publication? Yesterday, on LMFM radio, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, from the Taoiseach's own party, said not once, but three times, that the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, had met with the Louth county manager and the mayor of Drogheda and promised them both that Drogheda borough town council would be reinstated.

A question, please.

How can we have a situation where, ahead of the publication of the report, side deals are being done, certain towns are getting preference and this has been openly stated by the Taoiseach's backbenchers, yet towns like Navan, Trim, Killarney and Donegal are not getting the same preferential treatment?

On this issue, I think many people are getting ahead of themselves. I received the draft memo for the first time today and have not even read it yet. We are nowhere near making decisions on these things.

Deputy O'Dowd said on radio yesterday that the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, had discussions with the Louth county manager.

Order, please. I call Deputy Michael Healy-Rae.

It is okay if the process is followed formally.