I was at the event in Washington last week when the Taoiseach told his tale on how he intervened on behalf of Donald Trump with regard to a planning application close to Trump's Doonbeg resort in County Clare. The relaying of this tale raised a real concern for many people because of the past experiences in the State of political and ministerial interference in the planning process and all that flowed from that. It is a bad situation when a Minister takes a call from a wealthy businessman and makes such an informal intervention on his behalf. There is no way on earth that an ordinary person would have such privileged access or such an intervention. There is scope for inappropriate contact, or at least the perception of inappropriate contract, where Ministers take such calls from wealthy business people on planning matters and then raise the matters in this manner.

We are supposed to be discussing promised legislation here Deputy.

My question relates to the planning and development Bill, which I understand is due for publication this year. Can we have the law amended to ensure that such contact is legally prohibited?

The Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure )(Amendment ) Bill 2017, which is currently passing through the Houses, is due in the Seanad where amendments will be taken on strategic infrastructural investment, such as data centres for example. Is this the legislation to which the Deputy refers?

No. It is the next Bill.

Is that the Bill coming after that planning Bill? The amendment will be in relation to what? I am sorry Deputy.

As I explained, the scenario set out by An Taoiseach in Washington was one of contact that was made to him, while he was overseas, by a very wealthy and influential businessman-----

The Minister, Deputy Murphy, knows-----

The Taoiseach told the story of how he intervened in that. I am asking-----

If the Deputy wishes-----

I ask that such contact be-----

There was no inappropriate contact-----

I was asked by the Minister to clarify.

-----in that point in question because there was a role for the tourism board that was involved, but if Sinn Féin wants to submit an amendment when the Bill comes before the House then it is perfectly entitled to do so.